Nylon protective mesh caught fire behind the barrier for the Parliament Square work site this afternoon was promptly brought under control with no injuries and only superficial damage. 

Parliament Square Development Project Director Barney Phillips said the fire was ignited in the protective mesh behind the hoarding outside the Salamanca Place Building about 2pm. 

“Oxy acetylene cutting was being undertaken as part of the demolition of steel works on the building which we believe sparked the fire,” Mr Phillips said. 

He said the fire spread up the mesh sheet in the vicinity and the demolition workers acted promptly to initiate the emergency plan for the site.

Fire extinguishers are located adjacent to any hot work on the site as part the project’s safety plan. 

“Workers immediately phoned “000” and used fire extinguishers to reduce the spread of the fire.

By the time the fire service arrived in Salamanca Place a short time later, the fire was controlled and the fire brigade quickly mopped up any remaining hot spots,” Mr Phillips said. 

No one was injured by the incident and there was no damage other than superficial damage to the hoarding where the fire occurred.