Hilltown folk evacuated after blaze at takeaway

RESIDENTS were evacuated after a fire broke out at a takeaway in Dundee.

Firefighters were called to a row of shops on Hilltown near the junction with Ann Street at around 1.30pm yesterday.

A video from the scene showed firefighters going into the Food Temple takeaway.

The road was closed for nearly two hours by police while crews dealt with the incident.

Terrified residents said smoke filled their kitchen as it billowed from the nearby eatery.

One 20-year-old man said: “We started using towels trying to clear the smoke but we couldn’t breathe and had to get out.

“Our kitchen was covered in smoke, I actually thought the fire was in our property.

“It all happened in a matter of seconds. “We were standing at the door of our flat and someone was over the fence screaming ‘get out’.

“It was some shock and it wasn’t until we got away we realised our noses were black with smoke.

“We are so thankful that no one has been seriously injured, it could have been so much worse.”

One 24-year-old woman who lives in the block said: “I arrived home in the aftermath.

“The fire was out but the inside of the business looks destroyed.

“Residents were evacuated as the smoke had travelled to the flats above.”

One onlooker reported seeing three fire engines and three police vehicles at the scene.

A spokesperson for the Scottish Fire and Rescue service confirmed that all residents in the above flats had been evacuated safely.

She said: “We are currently in attendance at a fire on Hilltown.

“We received the call at 1.32pm and the stop message came in at 2.22pm.

“We initially mobilised two appliances but there are now currently three in attendance.

“All effects residents have been evacuated safely.”