Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver's Melbourne headquarters have been gutted in a blaze that forced the evacuation of 700 people.
The office of Oliver's Fifteen restaurant, which featured in a reality television series when it was launched two years ago, was engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived after 8.30pm last night.
About 50 firefighters took 40 minutes to control the blaze at 101 Collins Street, which destroyed the Fifteen office and two other offices on the first floor of the building.
Some 700 people were forced to evacuate other buildings and restaurants surrounding the fire, the Herald Sun reported.
Nightspot and live music venue The Cherry Bar was also damaged in the blaze.
However the fire did not reach the Fifteen restaurant, which is at 115-117 Collins Street.
The Fifteen office also runs the Fifteen Foundation, which gives young people with tough backgrounds an opportunity to train and be employed as apprentice chefs.
Metropolitan Fire Brigade commander Lou Mele said the damage bill could reach $1 million.
"Pretty much the whole first floor is gutted," Mr Mele said.
"That's where the fire started, on the first floor."
The blaze started on the first floor, gutting the interior of the three offices and collapsing part of the iron roof, but leaving the building otherwise structurally intact, Mr Mele said.
He said the The Cherry Bar suffered smoke, heat and water damage.
Fire investigators are working to pinpoint where and how on the first floor the fire started.
No other buildings were damaged in the blaze.
source: http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=575748
