More than 1000 residents were evacuated when an electrical fire broke out in a lift on the 8th floor of a Canberra apartment building overnight.

just after 12.30am ACT Fire and Rescue responded to reports of a fire inside the Ivy Apartments on Irving Street in Phillip.

Firefighters arrived to find smoke logging on several floors of the building.

Firefighters were able to locate the fire to a lift on the 8th floor, the fire was contained to the lift and the building was ventilated.

Residents, young children and pets waited patiently out in near freezing conditions for 2 hours while the building was made safe.

There were no reported injuries.

(Photos: Craig D.)