An investigation is under way into a mystery blaze at a Perth hospital, which firefighters worked for four and a half hours to fully extinguish.
The service was alerted after smoke was seen billowing from an abandoned building at Murray Royal Hospital on Kinnoull Hill at 1am on Wednesday. At its height the operation to contain the fire in the Gilgal building involved five appliances from Perth, Dundee and Coupar Angus and dozens of firefighters.
No one was hurt in the blaze, which was brought under control and fully extinguished after four and a half hours. It is believed people were seen hanging about the scene earlier in the evening and a joint investigation by police and fire services was launched when the site was made safe.
A spokesman for Tayside Fire and Rescue said, “A call came in at 1.02am to report a fire at Murray Royal Hospital and two appliances initially attended. When we first arrived half the building was well alight and two jets were used, as well as using the aerial appliance as a water tower as we tried to stop it spreading.
“We called for additional help and another appliance was called from Perth as well as one from Coupar Angus and one from Kingsway in Dundee. The command and support unit from Kingsway also attended.”
Units remained on site damping down for several hours. A police spokesman confirmed a joint investigation will take place.
NHS Tayside head of support services (Perth and Kinross) Mark Scholes said, “A fire started at the unoccupied Gilgal building on the southern part of the Murray Royal site in Perth in the early hours of this morning. We are working closely with Tayside Fire and Rescue and Tayside Police and an investigation will be carried out.”
The building has not been used for decades and was due to be disposed of in the hospital redevelopment programme, possibly as a housing site.