THE CONSTRUCTION company behind the One Station Hill development hit by a fire has praised its staff.
The incident took place on Thursday, November 23, just before 11.40am.
The roof of the eighth floor caught fire, and a dramatic rescue took place, footage of which went around the world and made front pages of national newspapers.
Roads around the area, including Station Hill and Friar Street, were closed to allow emergency services on the scene to make it safe.
At its peak, more than 50 firefighters were on the scene from fire stations across the county.
Two people were taken to the RBH for smoke inhalation, but their injuries were thought to be minor.
One Station Hill is a new development of offices, housing and shops and is opposite Reading Station.
It is currently being constructed, and Thursday’s fire was the second such incident in five months.
A Sir Robert McAlpine spokesperson said its teams had acted swiftly once the alarm had been raised.
“We are immensely proud of those on site whose actions helped ensure a safe evacuation,” they said.
“Our site safety procedures and training for dealing with an incident of this nature worked and everyone is safe.”
They continued: “We have contacted all those affected and are offering support from wellbeing professionals. The two individuals taken to hospital as a precautionary measure have been discharged and are well.
“Fortunately, incidents of this nature are extremely rare. The site has been safely secured and a thorough investigation is underway, meaning at this stage we are unable to comment further.”
