Wellington court evacuated during fire scare

The Wellington District Court building was evacuated this morning as firefighters located the source of smoke which spread throughout the multi-storey building.

More than a dozen appliances attended the Ballance St incident after an emergency call was received about 7.45am.

Fire officer Jon Graham said the smoke had gone through all six levels of the building, staff were immediately evacuated and prisoners held in cells were relocated to another building.

Fire officers traced the source of the smoke to a burned out air-conditioning unit.

The court was expected to resume this morning.

- NZPA