Flames leap from the roof of a building in central Hamilton as firefighters direct water from above onto the blaze. Former Munns Menswear building on Victoria Street.

A large fire that broke out in Hamilton's Central Business District on Sunday afternoon took about two hours to contain.

The initial call at 2.50pm was for pallets on fire beside the former Munns Menswear building on Victoria Street.

"When we arrived we've also found that the roof was on fire," Northern Shift manager Kaisey Cook said.

SUPPLIED Fire burns in a commercial building on Hamilton's Victoria St.

There were six appliances in attendance, including an aerial appliance and a command unit.

"We got a call that a building was on fire with the roof well involved. It was approximately 50 metres by 20 metres unoccupied building. The fire was located in the ceiling and we were doing an interior attack."

At about 5.10pm Fire and Emergency classed the fire as contained and said staff were starting to dampen it down.

Brian King Flames leap from the roof of a building in central Hamilton as firefighters direct water from above onto the blaze.

Black smoke and flames could earlier be seen billowing out of the building on the eastern side of Victoria Street.

A section of the main street was cordoned off and police were diverting traffic.

Faraz Mohamed who works opposite the burning building said the fire service was already close by attending another fire down the end of London Street -when the building caught fire.

Bee Rye A fire has started in a central Hamilton building

"There has been people working inside the building [Munns] when the fire started."

Cook said they were unaware of any reports that people had been working in the building.

Two WEL energy vehicles were also in attendance.

Jo Lines-MacKenzie Emergency services fight a fire in a central Hamilton building.

An investigation will be done into the cause of the fire.





ELLEN O'DWYER A fire in central Hamilton on Sunday afternoon