PEOPLE EVACUATED from a swathe of central Kirriemuir after fire engulfed a garage business returned to their homes yesterday.

The trickle began around mid-afternoon when emergency services agreed to lift a cordon which had been in place for more than 24 hours following the Glengate Garage inferno.

A 100-metre exclusion zone was thrown up on Tuesday afternoon after a potentially explosive acetylene gas cylinder used by mechanics was discovered in the burned out shell.

Around 80 households in surrounding streets were forced to spend the night away from home over fears the cylinder could blow up.

Firefighters doused it with water in a bid to cool it down in an operation that had to be carried out for at least 24 hours before residents were able to return.

Despite quickly bringing the blaze under control, firefighters were at the scene all night, spraying water on the cylinder through a remote jet.

Personnel used thermal imaging equipment to monitor the temperature of the cylinder before declaring it safe yesterday afternoon.

Tayside Fire and Rescue station manager Graeme Brown said that at around 2.30pm the cylinder was removed by specialists, allowing pedestrian access to the area.

A fresh concern for the town centre arose after debris scattered around the perimeter of the garage was thought to be asbestos sheeting used to form the garage walls.

Mr Brown said it turned out to be cement sheeting with low-level asbestos which health and safety officials deemed safe to be cleared away.

He confirmed that Kirriemuir’s fire appliances, which had been forced to relocate elsewhere in the town because of the exclusion zone, were also able to return to their station—next door to the garage at Glengate.

Mr Brown added that demolition of the remainder of the garage shell and clearance of the site was expected soon.

Those made homeless by the drama had opted to stay with friends and relatives overnight on Tuesday.

Webster’s High School, opened to provide an emergency rest centre for those caught up blaze, shut its doors at 9.30pm on Tuesday as no-one required accommodation.

An official from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) also spent time in the area after pollution fears were raised.

A spokesman said fire water run-off had entered a surface water drain discharging to the Gairie Burn in The Den.

“There was evidence of oil in the discharge but not in significant quantities,” the spokesman said.

A straw bale was put in the burn to trap the oil and a small amount was held back.

It will be removed once the discharge has stopped.

SEPA ecology staff will survey the burn this week.