Five shops in central Oxford were evacuated and Magdalen Street cordoned off while fire crews tackled a blaze in Schuh around 6pm on Thursday.
Six fire engines, a hydraulic platform and two support units attended the incident which closed Debenham’s, JJB Sports, Borders and Sainsbury’s Local.
The fire caused damage to the facade and display area of the shoe shop. Police blocked off the end of Broad Street, causing bus services to be curtailed or diverted.
By 8pm, the cordon area had been reduced. However, Sainsbury’s Local was off-limits to the public.
A fire officer at the scene described the blaze as "not small". Although the exact cause is not yet known, he suggested that a discarded cigarette on the street may be to blame.
There are no reported injuries.
