A POPULAR laneway in Melbourne’s CBD was evacuated this afternoon after a cafe caught fire, sending staff fleeing out the front.

Degraves St has been cleared out as emergency services respond to the blaze, believed to be at Cafe Andiamo.

Jasmine Tink, a barista at the near cafe The Quarter, said staff had jumped over counters to escape the fumes.

“It started off really faint and no one noticed because the street often smells like smoke,” she said.

media_camera Fire at a Degraves St cafe. Picture: Kieran Rooney

media_camera A fire in a Degraves Street. Picture: Jason Edwards

media_camera Fire crews respond to the blaze. Picture: Jason Edwards

media_camera Fire crews inspect the damaged cafe. Picture: Jason Edwards

media_camera A woman covers her mouth as she leaves the laneway. Picture: Jason Edwards

“Then about 2pm the smoke got really thick really quickly and people started rushing out and jumping over counters.

MFB fire crews had trouble reaching the cafe due to traffic problems.

Sprinklers in the cafe were activated.

MFB said the fire appears to have started in the kitchen and spread through the flue and ducting.

Smoke and water have damaged half of the cafe.

Smoke billows from the Degraves St cafe fire Smoke billows from the Degraves St cafe fire

MFB Firefighters in breathing apparatus extinguished the fire and used a thermal imaging camera to check for fire extension in the walls and ceilings.

Flinders Lane will remain closed for some time.

A Metropolitan Fire Brigade spokesman said firefighters had brought the blaze under control within 15 minutes but a significant amount of smoke lingered.

People were advised to avoid the area.

Ambulance Victoria was not called.

A Cafe has caught fire at Degraves St, fire crews are attending but Street is blocked off pic.twitter.com/fi8Sv5r2Ku — Patrick Laverick (@PatrickLaverick) July 12, 2017

Melbourne: The restaurant 2 doors down has a kitchen fire and you still want to finish your smokey bacon pasta... (Degraves Street) pic.twitter.com/25cxiEyj5K — Wolf Cocklin (@wolfcat) July 12, 2017

Degraves st is on 🔥 pic.twitter.com/DHdt1ClU6t — matt parrott (@Matt_Parrott) July 12, 2017

Degraves Street being cleared out as smoke gets thicker @theheraldsun pic.twitter.com/cDDYNoL2IR — Kieran Rooney (@KieranRooneyCM) July 12, 2017