The owner of an auctioneer’s building which burned to the ground in a massive overnight blaze has vowed his business will rise from the ashes.
Iain Smith, 54, said he was “devastated” by the fire at the Iain M Smith Auctioneers premises at Perth Airport, but determined to carry on.
Firefighters raced to the scene around 12.20am on Friday to find the building ablaze.
Crews battled for around five hours to contain the flames, supported by six fire engines and a major incident unit. Police are treating the fire as suspicious.
The auctioneers were preparing for a sale of antiques and collectables on Friday and it’s understood many valuable items were destroyed, including a gold sapphire ring.
Hundreds of objects were listed in the brochure for the sale, including china, paintings, clocks, toys and jewellery.
The police and fire service will mount a joint investigation into the blaze.
Mr Smith, whose family have run the business for 21 years, said he was “exhausted” after being at the scene from 12.45am on Friday.
“We’re devastated by this fire but have been heartened by the help we’ve been offered,” he said.
“The emergency services aren’t sure what caused the fire as there aren’t a lot of electrical items in the building. It was such a shame as we had around 1,100 lots for sale on Friday.”
He continued: “The fire was awful but we will not be stopping the business – we hope to be operational again in two to three weeks.”
Mr Smith intends to set up a temporary base beside the burnt-out shell of the existing auction house.
He has also been offered temporary premises from Perthshire-based Morris Leslie at the airport site.
“Everything practicable will be done to get up and running in around two to three weeks – we aren’t going anywhere,” he added.
Police Scotland said is appealing for information about what is called “a suspicious fire”.
A spokesman said: “The fire which took hold caused significant damage to the building before it was extinguished, and a joint investigation between Scottish Fire And Rescue Service and Police Scotland is now under way. We would like to ask anyone who saw any suspicious activity in the area of Scone Aerodrome at any point during the evening of Thursday 8th into Friday 9th March to contact us.
“If you have any information which could assist our investigation, please call 101 or speak with any Police officer. Alternatively, information can be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111. Our reference is CR/5547/18.”
A spokesperson for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said: “We had six units there after getting a call about a well-developed fire at the auctioneers.
“The stop message came in at 5.45am.”
He confirmed no one had been hurt as a result of the blaze.
Firefighters returned to dampen down hot spots at the scene around 9am on Friday.
Pledge sellers will be ‘sorted out’
Sellers who had items for sale at Iain M Smith’s Auctioneers will be “sorted out,” according to the owner.
Mr Smith insisted “everyone” affected by the major blaze at the Perth Airport site will be dealt with in terms of insurance claims.
“You need to have major insurance for a business like this,” he said on Friday.
“So our business is well insured.
“We’re covered for all eventualities including ‘interruption of business,’ which this falls into. We’re also insured for contents within the building so we will get everyone sorted out following this fire.
“An assessor will be visiting the site shortly.”
And Lindsay Burns, who previously ran Lindsay Burns and Company Auctioneers in King Street, Perth, added: “You have to be heavily insured for all goods when you own an auctioneers business, as you are held responsible for selling these items for members of the public.”
Friday’s auction at Iain M Smith Auctioneers would have seen around 1,100 lots for sale. The range of goods being auctioned was to include a gold sapphire ring, Derby pottery, Oor Wullie books, Royal Doulton jugs, a Marseille Bisque doll, an assortment of toys and a model railway set.
The auction was also selling copper art noveau jugs, binoculars and a China teaset.
Some of the more unusual items that were for sale included an Action Man and a 1962 Playboy calander.
Iain M Smith hold fortnightly auctions of ‘new and modern’ household furniture, antique furniture, silver and costume jewellery, ceramics and pictures. They have been operating at Perth Airport for 21 years.
