Fire forces apartment building evacuation in Braddon

About 50 people had to be evacuated this morning from an apartment building in Braddon following a fire.

ACT Fire & Rescue was alerted to the incident in the Mono-Arte apartment complex on Lonsdale Street at 6:25am.

Firefighters arrived a short time later and found a fire in a charcoal cooker in the kitchen of a restaurant on the ground floor of the building.

The fire was quickly extinguished, preventing it from spreading to the apartments above.

Fire crews are now ventilating smoke from the building and residents allowed to return inside.

ACT Fire & Rescue responded to the call with three fire trucks, commander, HAZMAT unit and the breathing apparatus support van.

Damage was contained to the kitchen of the restaurant.