Emergency services battled a large fire at the abandoned Robertson’s furniture store in Dundee city centre on Saturday evening.
The fire on Barrack Street started just before 6pm.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service mobilised nine appliances to the scene, with one appliance still in attendance on Monday.
There have been no reported casualties.
The listed building, which is located just metres from the Overgate shopping centre, has lain empty since Robertson’s furniture closed in 2011.
Police have closed off the surrounding roads including North Lindsay Street, South Ward Road and Bank Street.
‘You can see it all over the city’
One eye-witness said: “When I came out of the house and could smell smoke and realised something really major was happening.
“I was on my way to the supermarket in the car and could see smoke and flames.
“It’s a massive blaze – you can see it all over the city.
“There’s a massive emergency presence there just now. I have never seen a fire this big.
“There’s now a huge cordon around the area, I only hope and pray that no one is injured in this.”
Large plumes of smoke and flames could be seen from all around Dundee and from across the water in Newport-on-Tay.
Another eye-witness at the scene of the blaze said: “The building looks like it’s been totally destroyed in the fire, I can’t believe how big it is.
“There were at least seven fire appliances all around the building and lots of police.
“The flames were just not giving up, there were a few explosions amongst it as well.
“You could literally feel the heat coming off the building, it’s a total goner.
“There were a lot of people standing about watching the fire on the street behind the building but police eventually moved everyone on and closed off the entire area.
“It’s sad to see such a historic building end up like that.”
Shona Robinson, MSP for Dundee City East, reacted to the blaze on Twitter.
She said: “Such a shame to see the destruction of the once lovely Art Deco Robertson furniture store building in Dundee.
Such a shame to see the destruction of the once lovely Art Deco Robertson furniture store building in #Dundee. Thoughts are with the emergency services working hard to get the blaze under control.
— Shona Robison MSP (@ShonaRobison) November 12, 2022
“Thoughts are with the emergency services working hard to get the blaze under control.”
A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “We were alerted at 5.57pm on Saturday to reports of a building fire on Barrack Street in Dundee.
“Operations Control mobilised nine appliances and specialist resources to the scene and firefighters worked extremely hard to extinguish the large building fire.
“No casualties have been reported and one appliance remains at the scene and will likely be in attendance throughout Monday.”
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 6pm on Saturday police were called to assist Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, at the scene of a fire on Barrack Street.
“Emergency Services remain at the scene and the neighbouring streets are currently closed.”
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