Faulty wiring has been blamed for a major fire at a Perth city centre e-cigarettes store.
Vaporized, on County Place, was on fire on Thursday evening. Three fire crews spent nearly an hour tackling the blaze at the ground-floor property, while police closed off the street.
Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used an axe and hydraulic cutting tools to force their way into the store and reach the seat of the fire.
Workers at a neighbouring takeaway were advised to leave, amid fears the blaze could spread.
Yesterday Vaporized staff returned to the store to assess the damage and start an extensive clear-up job.
The blaze is thought to have been caused by defective wiring behind the wall of the shop’s back room, although an investigation is ongoing.
The main store was left badly smoke-damaged. Staff said the cost of the fire was not clear but could run into tens of thousands of pounds.
Products on display, including e-cigarettes and vape oils, will be checked to see if they can be resold, though it is likely they will all be binned.
Vaporized, a national chain, is in the process of rolling out a refurbishment programme to its stores across the UK. The Perth branch, which opened in 2013, was third on the list for a refit but has now been made a top priority.
A spokesman said: “We are relieved that no one was hurt and that the fire did not spread to any surrounding businesses or homes.
“However, extensive damage was caused to the shop itself and as such it will be closed until further notice.”
He added: “At this point, we do not know what caused the fire and an investigation is currently under way to determine exactly what happened. We will share the details of the investigation as soon as it has been completed.
“While we do not have a timescale for when we may be able to reopen the Perth store, we will be working to make this happen as soon as possible. In the meantime, our closest stores are in Dundee and Kirkcaldy.”
Vaporized has opened more than 20 stores across Britain, as the popularity of e-cigarettes continues to rise.