Large fire breaks out at high-rise building in Reading

A large fire has broken out at a high-rise building in Reading, with dramatic footage showing a worker being winched to safety by a crane.

Video posted on social media shows the blaze at what appears to be a construction site – with a worker trapped on the roof surrounded by flames and thick black smoke in the centre of the town.

It shows a white cage being lowered down to the person, who steps into it and swiftly shuts a trapdoor before they are hoisted away.

On the ground, crowds can be seen looking on in horror as firefighters tackle the blaze.

Two people have been taken to hospital for treatment for smoke inhalation after the huge fire at the Station Hill development site in the Berkshire town on Thursday morning.

Redwood Consulting, on behalf of Station Hill, said the site has been evacuated.

“We activated our fire emergency plans immediately, the emergency services were notified and are currently on site,” it said in a statement.

“The safety of those on site and the wider public is always our first priority, and the site has been evacuated as a result.

“As soon as we have more information we will provide an update.”

A number of roads have also been closed in the area.

Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service said it had received reports of the fire near Napier Road at 11.38am.

It said: “A number of our crews are currently on the scene.

“While emergency services work, we ask that people avoid the area where possible and close windows and doors if you live or work nearby.”

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A spokesperson for South Central Ambulance Service said two people were taken to the Royal Berkshire Hospital for further assessment and treatment for smoke inhalation. Neither were “severe cases”, they said.

“We are now on standby supporting the fire service (which is a standard operational procedure when they are working at height and at scale),” they added.

“We have our Hazardous Area Response Team, an ambulance, the Thames Valley Air Ambulance critical care car, an operational commander, a tactical adviser and a tactical commander at the scene.”

Thames Valley Police said its officers are also at the scene and road closures are in place from Forbury roundabout to Forbury Road, Friar Street and Friar West.

The force added: “We are working to allow access for residents to premises that have not been affected by the fire, and to the hotels.

“If you live in the surrounding area, please keep windows closed and stay indoors.”