Pictures reveal the scale of the damage at a fire-hit former school in Perth.
The devastating blaze ripped through the former Balhousie Primary School shortly after midnight on Sunday.
Firefighters remain at the scene, with large parts of Dunkeld Road, Balhousie Street, and Muirton Place still closed to traffic.
The Courier’s Kim Cessford captured dramatic photos showing the collapsed roof and blackened structure.
Only the exterior walls now stand. Most of the interior is gone.
“You could feel the heat”
An 18-year-old man was arrested in connection with the fire and later released pending further investigation.
Police Scotland say the fire is currently being treated as “unexplained” and that enquiries are ongoing.
One local resident said they watched the blaze take hold of the former school.
“I witnessed the Balhousie abandoned primary school fire from a scary but safe distance.
“You could see parts of the building collapse and massive clouds of smoke following.
“The fire was so big that you could feel the heat from it even from where we were.”
The derelict school closed in 2023 due to its deteriorating condition.
Plans had been submitted to redevelop the site into 26 homes, including one-bed and two-bed flats and a three-bedroom house.
Emergency services continue to monitor and dampen the site as safety assessments are carried out.
This latest blaze comes just one week after a fatal fire in Perth city centre, which left 50 families homeless and forced the demolition of a five-storey building on Scott Street.
Many local businesses remain closed or are struggling with reduced footfall, and major road closures are still in place.
