A YOUTH hostel had to be evacuated after a fire broke out in a laundry room on Friday.

Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service were called to the blaze at the Backpackers Youth Hostel, in Hythe Bridge Street, at around 5pm.

Two fire engines were sent from Rewley Road Fire Station and twenty people had to leave the building, Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service said. 

Hostel manager Andrew Werner said machines in the laundry room caught fire after overheating.

But he said the damage was confined just to the one room and only the machines were damaged.

He added: “It’s a bit of a shock for everyone.

“The machines, they should not be able to overheat like that.

“It’s still under investigation to what’s happened but we will be dealing with that with the company we are renting them from.”

Firefighters had to wear breathing equipment and used thermal imaging cameras to locate the fire.

Watch Manager Tony Whiting  said: “A quick hard-hitting attack meant that we were able to extinguish the fire, in minimum time, and with the minimum disruption to the hostel and residents.

“The managers of the hostel were alerted in a quick, timely fashion due to their working smoke alarms and this is another great example of when a smoke alarm has saved lives.

“We would like to remind everyone to check that they have working smoke alarms in their places of work and their homes, and to test them weekly.” 

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