Investigation into a Christmas fire in Dundee city centre still cannot go ahead because the shell is too dangerous for firefighters.
More than a month after fire ripped through the temporary Xmas Shop building on the Murraygate, the investigation is still on hold.
Slow demolition has begun on what was a historic retail unit in one of the city’s busiest shopping streets.
A spokesman for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that the investigation is on hold until the fire-damaged structure can be made safe, prompting fears that evidence which may help the investigation could be damaged by extended exposure to the elements.
He said: “As this was not a fatal or even an injury fire, we are less worried about evidence.
“If there was sensitive material in the building, we would have covered it to prevent weather damage.
“The responsibility for making the building safe lies with the building owners.
“Until it is made safe we can only wait. There is nothing more we can do at this stage while the building remains inaccessible.”
The Xmas Shop, at 17-23 Murraygate, was evacuated as smoke filled the busy street on the Sunday before Christmas.
Nobody was injured in the blaze, which saw both the Murraygate and Seagate roads closed on one of the most valuable shopping days of the year.
Despite the now condemned building being too dangerous for professional fire investigators to enter, shoppers are still permitted to use the street, though the front of the building is cordoned off.
A council spokesman confirmed that building services had ensured the building was not dangerous to the general public.
Only the interior of the building still poses a threat.
A spokesman for the building’s owners, Northumberland Estates, confirmed demolition had begun.
He said: “We had a meeting just after Christmas with the structural engineers and representatives from the council and the building was condemned.
“The decision was made to completely bring down the structure and this process began on January 12.
“It should take about six weeks, but this is not a fixed-time demolition and the timescales are elastic.
“Our plan for the site is to reinstate the building, and we have been in talks with architects.
“We plan to build something similar to the original building, with retail at street level and office space above.”