Ground evacuated during blaze

Fire damages the MCG

Cricinfo staff

August 30, 2006

A fire believed to have been caused by workers' welding torches has caused an estimated A$50,000 damage to the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

The fire, which was soon put out by Melbourne's Metropolitan Fire Brigade, damaged a small area of seating in a new stand under construction, as well as window panels and a section of the roof.

"It could have been a lot worse," a spokesman for the fire brigade said. "Our crews arrived four or five minutes after the fire and quickly got a couple of lines on and got it under control very quickly. The roof is damaged. Not majorly, but there is quite a bit of damage."

Up to 300 workers and other staff were evacuated from the ground while the fire was put out.

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