The video will auto-play soon 8 Cancel Get email updates with the day's biggest stories Invalid Email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice A huge fire has broken out at a Primark store in Belfast, with shoppers evacuated from the historic building after smelling smoke. The building has been completely engulfed by flames as witnesses said they can 'hear the structure collapsing into itself.' The fire service has since confirmed that there are ‘structural concerns’. Flames were initially seen coming from the top of the 233 year-old Bank Buildings after the blaze started at around 11am. Up to 100 firefighters and 14 Fire Appliances battled the blaze, with dramatic footage showing smoke pouring out of the roof. (Image: Sarah Scott/Twitter) (Image: PA) (Image: PA) The multi-floored building, which has recently undergone refurbishment, has seen the roof collapse as the flames took hold. Witnesses said they heard a number of loud bangs as the fire ripped across the roof and could feel the heat of the flames from behind the police cordon on the ground. Multiple fire crews could be seen in one of the main shopping areas of Castle Street, as shoppers gazed at the roaring flames from the street below. Have you been affected by this story? Email webnews@trinitymirror.com (Image: PA) (Image: Sarah Scott/Twitter) In one image taken from above the buildings, orange flames could be seen amongst the thick smoke . The historic clock attached to its facade has also tumbled off. The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue service are using an aerial appliance to access the source of the blaze. (Image: PA) Shoppers inside the store said they began smelling smoke while shopping. Taking to Twitter, Erin said: "As if I got evacuated from Primark cause it's on fire. "Walking around I'm going "I smell smoke". Ciara Colhoun, a reporter at Belfast Live, said: "You can feel the heat from behind the police cordon. People saying it is so sad to see the historic building in flames. "Couple of loud bangs in last 30 seconds. Suggestion of has cylinders." Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will auto-play soon 8 Cancel Play now A helicopter is also reported to be at the scene. The Bank Buildings were designed by Sir Robert Taylor and erected by Waddell Cunningham in 1785. The original bank opened in 1787 under the name of 'The Bank of the Four Johns', as all four founders were named John. After the bank collapsed, the building was used as the residence of the Bishop of Down and Connor. (Image: PA) (Image: National Library of Ireland on The Commons - Castle Junction, Belfast) In 1805, it was converted into a shop, and has remained an outlet for retail ever since. Primark took over the building in 1979. The area immediately outside the building was used as an execution spot for criminals before the practice came to an end in 1816. PUP Councillor JulieAnn Corr-Johnston told Belfast Live: "The Primark building in Belfast City Centre has caught fire. Emergency services are responding. "Devastating news particularly following the recent refurbishments and extension! "Hope everyone has made it out safely." A Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) Spokesperson said in an updated statement just before 5pm: “Up to 100 Firefighters have been at the scene of a major fire at the Primark building in Castle Street, Belfast today. "Fourteen Fire Appliances, a High Volume Pump, 3 Aerial Appliances and 2 Command Support Units are in attendance. “Fire has extensively damaged the Primark building in Belfast City Centre which started on the fifth floor of the five-storey building before spreading to all floors. "Fire-fighting is ongoing and will continue into the evening. "Residents and businesses in the area are advised to keep windows and doors closed due to heavy smoke in the vicinity. (Image: PA) “Whilst the incident is ongoing, NIFRS wishes to reassure the public that contingency measures are in place to ensure normal service delivery is maintained across Belfast.” Firefighters were reportedly telling crowds to move back as they battled the blaze. Workers and those living in buildings surrounding the fire said they saw flames "shooting up high". Gerry Johnston, who works nearby, wrote on Twitter: "Flames were shooting up high a few minutes ago. Fire fighters seem to be controlling it a bit at least." Emer Hinphey said: "Looks like a bad fire at the Primark building in Belfast City Centre. Seeing the Fire Fighters move across to the roof is a scary reminder of the amazing and risky job they do." A Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) spokesperson said: “Motorists are advised to avoid the Castle Street area of Belfast following a report of a fire at commercial premises this morning (Tuesday 28th August). HISTORIC BUILDING WAS ORIGINALLY 'THE BANK OF FOUR JOHNS' The Bank Buildings on Castle Street were designed by Sir Robert Taylor and erected by Waddell Cunningham in 1785, built in red Dumfries sandstone. The original bank opened in 1787 under the name of "The Bank of the Four Johns", as all four founders went by the name. The bank's finances eventually collapsed, and the building was later used as the residence of the Bishop of Down and Connor, the Rev Dr William Dickson. During the time of public executions, the road in front of the building was used for executing criminals, and in 1816, the last public execution was carried out on its doorstep. Reports say the last three people to be hanged were weavers who had twice attacked the home of their employer, Francis Johnston, in an argument over wages. In 1805, the building was converted into a shop. In 1853, William Robertson and Henry Hawkins from Waterford, JC Ledlie from Cork, and Robert Ferguson of Belfast, founded a wholesale drapery business, which became a department store. In 1900, the ground and first floors of the building underwent a major redesign, and architect WH Lynn allowed for large plate glass windows to be installed in the lower floors.<doc-sep>"Staff were sort of looking at each other and then the alarm started going off and they said: 'Get out as quickly as you can.'<doc-sep>A senior fire officer has described the fire that gutted a Primark store in Belfast as one of the biggest they have battled in a number of years. Flames and thick black smoke engulfed the five-story historic building in the city centre. More than 100 firefighters battled for over six hours as the major blaze ripped through the Bank Buildings. CEO of Primark Paul Marchant said he is deeply shocked and saddened by the fire and moved to reassure staff that have been gravely impacted by the blaze, saying he will ensure they are "fully supported". The building, which has been in the heart of Belfast's shopping district since 1787, had recently undergone a multimillion-pound refurbishment.<doc-sep>Until 1961 only the ground and first floors were used as a retail store, with the remainder of the building taken up by the company's wholesale warehouse.<doc-sep>
Firefighters are concerned that the 118-year-old building housing the flagship Primark store in Belfast could collapse after it was gutted and left unsafe by a fire. A senior fire officer described the blaze – which broke out on the fifth floor of the five-storey Bank Buildings on Castle Street on Tuesday morning – as one of the biggest he had battled in yearsThe store had been undergoing a multimillion-pound refurbishment and a recruitment drive for more than 100positions was launched last week. Police put a 30-metre cordon in place as crowds gathered to watch flames and smoke billow from the building, which was designed by William Henry Lynn and completed in 1900. Michael Graham, Belfast’s assistant chief fire and rescue officer, expressed “concerns” over the structural integrity of the building, with part of it “prone to collapse”. He said: “It was a difficult fire and a fire that has continued for approximately six hours. “It has been a long and arduous six hours for them but we will continue to fight the fire until we extinguish it. It is one of the biggest we have experienced in the last two to three years.” He said he was concerned about the front and the two sides of the structure. Graham added that he did not know what caused the fire, nor whether there were fire alarms or sprinklers in place. No one was injured. Primark’s chief executive, Paul Marchant, said he was deeply shocked and saddened. He reassured staff who worked in the building that they would be “fully supported”. One witness said he had spotted smoke coming from the roof of the building and alerted the security guards inside the store. The man, who asked to remain anonymous, said it appeared the security guards had not been aware of the fire. Flames from a major blaze which has broken out at the Primark store in Belfast city centre. Photograph: Liam McBurney/PA Customers described smelling smoke inside the store before staff told them to leave. Loud bangs could be heard and large pieces of debris were seen falling from the building. Joan McCoy, the president of the Royal Society of Ulster Architects, said: “Thankfully, there are no reports of any injuries arising from this major fire but it is a sad day for Belfast. Buildings like these help give Belfast its unique identity and character. The Bank Building is a very important part of the city’s architectural heritage and is loved by many. “This building has survived bombs and fire before. We can only hope that the damage is not too severe and that the building can be saved.” Glyn Roberts, the chief executive of Retail Northern Ireland, said: “The emergency services deserve credit for handling a very difficult situation in such a big store in a busy city centre without any reported injuries. “This is a very concerning development, both for Primark and the city centre as a whole. Primark is a major attraction for Belfast and provides considerable footfall for surrounding traders.”