Emergency services have confirmed that nobody was hurt in a blaze which ripped through homes and businesses in Alyth in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Rescuers spent nearly eight and a half hours tackling a widespread blaze which engulfed flats above the town’s Fortune Palace Chinese takeaway.
Specialist firefighting crews rushed to Airlie Street just before 4.30am on Saturday.
The inferno has caused major structural damage to the upstairs premises, destroying most of the roof of the building on the corner of David Street.
Eight fire engines from across Tayside raced to the scene along with the specialist crews, including a cherry picker unit.
Teams were still dousing the blaze and securing the area until after 12pm.
A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “We were alerted at 4.29am on Saturday, February 22 to reports of a building fire at Airlie Street in Alyth.
“Eight fire appliances, an aerial rescue appliance and specialist resource have been mobilised to the scene, and crews are currently tackling a well-developed fire affecting commercial and domestic properties.”
Police have confirmed that none of the residents were in the building during the fire.
Investigators said it is too early to confirm if the fire is suspicious as of yet.
Airlie Street had been cordoned off by police, who urged drivers to dodge the area.
A spokesperson said: “Police Scotland would like to advise motorists that there is a road closure on Airlie Street, Alyth between Albert street and St Ninians Road due to a fire at a property.
“The public are asked to avoid the area if possible and thanked for their patience.”
The building is the second in Alyth to catch fire this month.
In the early hours of the morning on February 7, firefighters extinguished a fire at a 150-year-old cottage on Albert Street.
The premises, which was in the middle of being renovated, was also empty when the fire started. The couple who had recently bought the property were staying with friends at the time.
Chinese restaurants have also proved to be tinderboxes across Courier Country, as China China on Dundee’s Clepington Road also went up in flames in January.
