Police have U-turned on a claim a fire at a Dundee house was started deliberately.
Firefighters were called to the same property on Liff Road twice in the space of four hours on Monday after it went up in flames.
It is understood crews were forced to return when the initial fire reignited after being put out.
On Tuesday morning police said they are treating the blaze, which started just before 2pm, as “wilful”.
But hours later they updated their statement to say “inquiries are ongoing”. It is understood they are now treating the fire as unexplained.
Some residents in nearby properties had to be evacuated after the fire service returned to the scene shortly before 6pm, and remained out of their homes overnight.
One 69-year-old man, who lives nearby, told The Courier: “When I was walking along towards Lochee, I initially thought someone was burning rubbish in the garden.
“I was aware of the emergency services at around 1.30pm but it didn’t look that bad at that point.
“Then later in the evening, the firefighters were back on the scene and they had the ladder out at the same house.
‘Devastating’ fire at house on Liff Road
“I can’t believe the extent of the damage – it’s devastating to see what’s happened.”
Another resident said: “The first we knew about it was when the sirens came roaring into the street just after 1pm.
“There were three fire engines here in the afternoon and I saw smoke coming from the windows.
“It was definitely worse the second time around.
“We feel for that family that live there – it just seems so much worse at this time of year.
“The emergency services have been here throughout the night.”
Police probing Liff Road house fire
A Police Scotland spokesperson said on Tuesday evening: “Around 1.50pm on Monday, we were called to a report of a fire at a property on Liff Road, Dundee.
“Emergency services attended and the fire was extinguished. There were no reports of anyone being injured.
“Inquiries are ongoing to establish the cause of the fire.”
The initial statement, sent to The Courier on Tuesday morning, said: “The fire is being treated as wilful and inquiries are ongoing.”
