Latest update:

12:26

Krowji have just issued the following statement:

We are sad to report there has been a significant fire at Krowji this morning. The fire bridgade have been working tirelessly to control this. Our priority at the moment is our studio holders safety as we try to keep them informed about the damage to our buildings and we'll update our pages as we can. Thank you to all those members of the public who have sent well wishes and thoughts of sympathy.

Fire is now out. The blaze appears to have been restricted to a single storey building which contained artist's studios and not to the newly opened £2m block.

St Ives Fire brigade have just posted these pictures of the damage:

Falmouth Packet:

Falmouth Packet:

Falmouth Packet:

A major fire has broken out at a creative hub in Redruth that had just opened a £2m green block with 21 studios.

Emergency services received the first call at 06.38 this morning to the Krowji building on fire at in the Blowinghouse Hill area of Redruth.

Falmouth Packet:

The fire at Krowji. Picture Lorraine Tredinnick

On arrival crews confirmed that the building was well alight and asked for four pumps. By 8.24 up to 11 pumps were at the scene and an aerial ladder were brought in to try and bring the flames under control.

A statement from Cornwall Fire Service said:

"At 0638 critical control received the first call to a building on fire in the Blowinghouse Hill area of Redruth, On arrive crews confirmed one building was well alight and requested Make pumps 4 as the building was well alight.
"Update at 0650- Crews have made pumps 7
"Update at 0824 Crews have now requested make pumps 11, with assistance from one water carrier and one Aerial ladder platform."

Falmouth Packet:

The fire at Krowji. Picture Lorraine Tredinnick

The force tweeted out We are currently dealing with large fire on Blowinghouse Hill, Redruth. Please avoid the area as road closures are in place.

Eyewitness Lorraine Tredinnick who lives opposite the building told the Packet.

"I noticed blue flashing lights opposite at Krowji, at that point all I saw was a lot of smoke which appeared to be coming from one of the modern structures not the old buildings. More fire hydrants attended, the fire cannon was deployed. Not sure how it was started. Road closed for several hours - believe it still is."

Falmouth Packet:

St Euny Church,in Redruth, asked people to pray for the fire service and those effected.

"Redruth Krowji, is Cornwall's largest creative hub home to dozens of artists and other creative businesses, and right now (9am Sunday) it's on fire. Please pray for the fire services, and for all those affected."

One desperate artist called Sharp was asking people for information about the fire.

A brand new clean, green £2 million Phase 2 workspaces had just opened on the site but is not now thought to have been effected.

Falmouth Packet:

The £2m creative block had just been opened

A JustGivinbg crowdfunding page has aleady been set to raise £10,000 to help many artists from all walks of life who have been affected by the fire at Krowji, Cornwall's centre for art.

Charlie Coleman who has set up the page said: "A fire just broke out this morning at Krowji, Cornwall's centre for art, here in Redruth.

"Krowji is not just charity offices or a gallery but a living, breathing home to many artists and creative minds from all walks of life. Many of these tenants will have just lost artwork to not just the fire, but smoke and water too.

"Art is not something a simple small insurance check can solve, and many will have lost work that may have taken months if not years to produce, and would thus have now lost their livelihood.

"Krowji will be well known to many art fans for organising and being at the centre of Cornwall's annual Open Studios event, where artists across the county open up the private studios and homes to the public to come in and see inside their lives (and heads too) and possibly, especially for the artists, buy some artwork too.

"Having owned The Melting Pot cafe at Krowji for it's last 3 years before it closed down, I had the pleasure and privilege to serve and make friends with many of the tenants and I know this has come as a crippling blow to some who have already suffered from not just the problems of Covid, but also drastic cuts in financial support for the art community.

"So I ask if you can help too, even if it's just the price of your next coffee."

You can donate here

Matthew McEvoy said: "The news coming out of Redruth this morning is tragic. Krowji is part of the creative hub that this area so desperately needs.

"15 artists have lost everything in today's fire. It could have been much worse for the creative community but it couldn't be worse for those who have lost everything. Please donate if you can and share if you care."