FOUR fire engines raced to Oxford central library this afternoon as residents were evacuated out of the building following a small fire.

Visitors to the library, in Westgate, were ushered outside after the fire alarm went off at around 5pm on Monday (December 7).

Initially fire crews believed it was the smell of burning from the building site before they discovered a small fire in a light fitting.

Bea Stevenson, of Osney Island, was clutching her 18-month-old son outside Westgate shopping centre.

She said: “The fire alarm went off so we all came outside here. They said they were going to bring our buggies down for the children so we can get home and give them their tea.

“I think they think it’s the smell of burning coming from outside.”

Julian Green, Oxfordshire County Council fire and rescue service, said: “We have identified a small fire in a light fitting that seems to be the culprit.

“I think the intention is to open the library tonight if we can isolate the electricity supply in one place.
“Oxford is a historically important city centre and with a large shopping centre, lots of Christmas shoppers and it’s about keeping people safe.” 

Sue Harper, manager of the Oxford Central Library, said they were only closed for an hour.

She said: “We were back open at five past six, it turned out to be an electrical fault.”