House in Balgillo Road in Dundee severely damaged by fire

A house in Balgillo Road in Dundee was severely damaged by fire yesterday evening.

The blaze sent thick smoke over the nearby Claypotts junction and caused disruption to traffic.

Firefighters were alerted around 5.40pm and arrived to find the roofspace alight.

Station manager Fraser Scott said firefighters wearing breathing apparatus went inside to tackle the flames and broke a dormer window to ventilate the house.

The first floor suffered severe fire damage. There was also considerable water damage to the ground floor and part of the ceiling collapsed.

l A Lochee woman has told of her panic after a fire was started outside her top-floor flat.

Mary Blake (55), who discovered the blaze late on Wednesday night, said: “The smoke started pouring in my house and I panicked.”

Police are investigating the fire.