Fire crews extinguish blaze at National Zoo and Aquarium in Canberra

Firefighters have extinguished a large blaze in a maintenance shed at the National Zoo and Aquarium in Canberra.

The on-site hotel, bungalow and tree house accommodation facilities were evacuated as a precaution after the fire broke out just before 1pm.

The fire started in a shed that houses maintenance equipment and soon spread to nearby sheds.

The blaze started near the lion and tiger enclosure, but fire crews say the enclosure itself was never threatened.

Zoo staff took care of the animals nearby.

Despite large plumes of smoke seen coming from the area, authorities said the zoo itself remained open and was not been impacted by the fire.

The cause of the fire is being investigated but is not being treated as suspicious. 

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