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INITIAL reports were for a simple rubbish bin fire in a back lane off Hindley St.
But it was quickly apparent this was no standard Tuesday lunchtime call-out.
At 12.13pm, the triple-0 switchboard lit up as dozens of people phoned to report the blaze.
Within minutes much of the city was enveloped in an eerie shroud of dark smoke.
Sirens from dozens of emergency service vehicles pierced the usual quiet as hundreds of people spilt out of surrounding buildings onto Leigh St and Hindley St.
Among those gathering on the surrounding streets was Kay Hall, who was evacuated from Leigh Chambers along with colleagues.
“Police came and told us to evacuate,†she said.
Startled onlookers used mobile phones to film the unfolding drama as social media went into a frenzy, while others quickly fled the area fearing explosions.
The MFS used a crane to battle the blaze from Hindley St, while more firefighters stood inside rooms of the Grand Chancellor Hotel to attack the fire.
Massive smoke plumes obscured the burning building as nearby office blocks were clogged with dark smoke — which was initially feared to be contaminated with asbestos.
Another employee working on the top floor above Italian restaurant Rigoni’s said her colleague went out the fire escape and saw smoke billowing.
“We all used the stairs to leave, the alarm in our building didn’t go off,†she said.
A Japanese restaurant owner on Leigh St said he saw firefighters jumping from the roof of the building behind his shop about 12.30pm.
The Bronto earned its stripes. Source: The Advertiser
“We told our customers to leave,†he said.
The fire — the largest in the CBD in recent years — caused chaos for motorists and commuters, as surrounding streets were blocked for several hours.
Many workers were sent home, while others remained nearby unsure if they would be allowed to return to retrieve belongings.
While the blaze did not cause serious injury or death, the damage bill could run into the millions and the affected buildings may need to be demolished.
Originally published as Costly effects of city’s back lane blaze