Firefighters have brought a blaze at Grade II-listed St James’ Court in East Street, Farnham under control with no casualties reported, say Surrey Fire and Rescue Service.

The fire is believed to have taken hold on the second floor of the converted church and block of 16 flats shortly before 6pm on Sunday, July 17, with a 999 call alerting the emergency services at 5.52pm.

Firefighters were on the scene just six minutes later, with a total of three fire service appliances from Surrey and four from Hampshire rushing to the incident.

Shortly before 8.30pm, a spokesman for Surrey Fire and Rescue Service confirmed the blaze had been brought “under control” and an investigation into its cause was under way.

The spokesman added no casualties had been reported. The extent of damage to the Grade II-listed former church is currently unknown.

East Street was closed in both directions from the junction of Dogflud Way to Papa John’s pizza takeaway while fire crews tackled the flames, but has since reopened.

It comes as temperatures remain in the high 20Cs going into Friday evening, with firefighters praised online for a rapid response to the blaze.

One Facebook user posted on the Farnham Rants group: “Fires out and everyone is safe road has been reopened well done to the fire brigade for getting the fire under control super fast.”

The former church of St James’ on East Street, Farnham, was built 1876 by Henry Woodyer, declared redundant in 1974 and converted to 16 flats circa-1980.

It is now called St James Court, and the building has been Grade II-listed since December 29, 1972.