Fire crews have spent the night tackling a major blaze in a derelict flax mill near Dundee city centre.
Firefighters were called to the Brook Street area just after 3pm on Monday.
At the peak of the blaze, six appliances and two height appliances were on scene at the former Queen Victoria Works, which is labelled as at risk and been empty since 1990.
Large plumes of smoke could be seen from across the city and residents were asked to keep their windows closed.
Locals were also told to expect interruption to water supplies as crews pumped water on to the fire.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service says officers remained on scene until after 10am on Tuesday – more than 19 hours after the initial call.
Pete Minejko, a nearby resident of 15 years, said: “I was in my house [and] I just smelled it.
“It was a jute mill; I used to work there driving the forklift.
“I could see it from my house.
biiiiiig fire happening in #dundee, it's been off and on for about 3/4 hours now.@BBCScotlandNews @courier_dundee pic.twitter.com/5lPmSVmuyj
— Johnny "Pain" Threshold (@JohnnyThreshold) July 25, 2022
“There’s not a lot of fires around here.”
Another eyewitness said: “I saw it from my work, all black smoke up at Hawkhill.
“It smells rubbery.”
Local business Dundee Strength Unit, which is based in a building adjacent to the fire, closed on Monday afternoon.
In a statement on social media, it said that due to the smoke and efforts of firefighters, it was not safe to remain open.
Heather Thomson, owner and trainer at Pole Position Scotland, whose premises is also near the fire, said: “We turned back and cancelled the whole evening’s classes because we had left the windows open as it’s been so hot.
“We wanted to air the studio out while we weren’t there.
“Because our window looks on to that building and we’re one of the closest ones to it, we have had to cancel classes because you can’t do fitness classes in a room that’s filled with smoke.
“I don’t know about any damage yet, I don’t know if it’s going to have to be redecorated, I’ve not been in the room yet.
“My work colleague was there, I was on my way there and just turned back.”
Officers are appealing for witnesses after a building fire in Dundee.
Police appeal for witnesses
Police Scotland has since confirmed nobody was injured in the blaze and the cause is being treated as unexplained.
Detective Sergeant Sean McCabe said: “We are working to establish the full circumstances of this fire and would urge anyone with information which could help to come forward.
“We would also be keen to speak to anyone with dashcam footage or private CCTV.
“Anyone who can help is asked to call 101, quoting reference 2050 of July 25.”
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