UPDATE 1PM
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It took firies about 15 minutes to douse the blaze next to Morpeth’s historic River Royal Inn.
Fire brigades from Maitland, East Maitland and Morpeth rushed to the scene after a fire broke out in a shed just before midday.
Four customers and four staff members from the neighbouring hotel were evacuated from the scene. The evacuation was a precautionary measure due to the storage of gas bottles at the hotel.
Hotel supervisor Kelly Swan said given that the historic watering hole had only recently reopened, the fire was a nerve-racking experience.
EARLIER REPORT
Maitland Fire Brigade has been called to a fire at Morpeth’s historic River Royal Inn.
Three fire trucks are at the scene.
A shed alongside the River Royal caught on fire shortly before 12 noon on Wednesday.
The pub was evacuated as a precaution.
There was a gas tanker parked at the rear of the pub when the fire started.
The cause of the blaze is not known.
The Swan Street premises has only recently reopened after undergoing months of renovations.
It closed after receiving substantial damage during last year’s April superstorm.
![Fire alongside River Royal Inn | PHOTOS, VIDEO Fire alongside River Royal Inn | PHOTOS, VIDEO](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/KRM77tP3akqwSNbwmEzAg5/c3809099-f802-47c5-9a78-6cf592950f9e.jpg/r0_153_3002_1841_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)