Crews tackle two major city blazes

FIRE crews were called to tackle two major fires in Dundee last night — and returned to fight a third blaze today.

Firefighters were called out to blazes at a tenement block in Fairbairn Street and a disused builder’s yard in Emmock Road yesterday.

The service then received a call to rubbish on fire in Emmock Road today, close to the same yard.

The cause of all three fires was not known but it’s believed a probe was set to be launched into the Fairbairn Street incident, which started at 8.50pm.

Scaffolding surrounding the building was damaged with the external walls of the tenement left blackened.

A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokeswoman said: “Crews attended a report of a fire in Fairbairn Street at 8.50pm. Two appliances used two main jets, one hose reel jet and a thermal image camera.

“Crews were stood down at 9.25pm once the fire was extinguished.”

Fairbairn Street resident Barbara Kyle, 63, watched in shock as the flames raged.

She told the Tele: “I was right next door to the fire.

“I only noticed something was up when I saw a woman in the street at a police car.

“I came out and saw the smoke and flames.

“They were really high, reaching the third floor. It was scary to watch.”

She added: “It seems that it was a group of kids who did it. They need to find who did it because it’ll just happen again.

“It’s terrifying to think something like that could happen to the block I’m in.”

The scaffolding is up to allow cladding works on the tenements to be carried out.

Meanwhile, several residents told the Tele of seeing a huge cloud of smoke as the fire in Emmock Road took hold yesterday.

Plastic and insulation was found alight at the scene.

A fire service spokeswoman said: “Crews were called to attend a fire in Emmock Road at 7.36pm.

“Three appliances attended with a main net used to extinguish the flames. Officers attended until 10.10pm.”

Crews returned to Emmock Road at 7.49am today to tackle a further rubbish fire for an hour. It was not known if the two incidents were linked.

Fire crews tackle the large fire at Emmock Road to the north of Dundee. Below inset, the blaze at Fairbairn Street.