A flat was destroyed after a fire broke out at a mosque in Southampton.
The blaze started on the third floor of the Bashir Ahmed Masjid in Portswood at around 11.19am on Sunday, June 15.
Firefighters from Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service confirmed one flat was destroyed and three remaining flats on the third floor suffered smoke damage.
At the time of writing, the cause of the fire was to be determined, but the gas and electric supply to the building was isolated.
(Image: Phil Brown)
A long row of emergency vehicles lined Portswood Road, a large section of which was closed while firefighters tackled the blaze.
Around 35 firefighters from St Mary’s, Hightown, Eastleigh, Redbridge, Fareham, Winchester, and Lyndhurst attended.
Emergency vehicles lining Portswood Road (Image: Newsquest) READ MORE: Shocking video shows smoke billowing from mosque
Portswood resident, Mike Jones said: "I've seen pictures and it was billowing from the top, big black smoke.
"I can still see smoke coming out of the window.
"It is just a shame really.
"I was shocked to see it, it's the last place you would expect to see it."
(Image: Agnes Smith)
Sophie Martin from Portswood saw the fire engine dash past her house before witnessing the scene herself.
She said: "We just saw it as we were walking down the street.
"There are a lot of vehicles."
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service said residents were already evacuated when firefighters arrived.
The fire was tackled using hose reel jets, and ventilation fans were used to clear the smoke.
Aerial picture of the scene (Image: George Collins Photography)
Nazesh Sediqi lives across the mosque and was unable to get back into her home due to the cordon.
She said: "I didn't see how it started, I just got a message saying look outside, the mosque is burning."
The mosque, which opened in December 2013, can accommodate 800 worshippers at any one time and provides educational classes for both adults and children, as well as a range of religious and secular activities and services.
Fire Investigation Officers were in attendance to find out the cause of the fire.
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