Asbestos at blaze-gutted city building

People have been told to remain indoors as Tayside health chiefs confirmed the presence of asbestos at a building gutted by a huge blaze in Dundee at the weekend.

Carpet Reclaim Ltd, on Forties Road in the Baldovie Industrial Estate, went up in flames on Sunday at around 8pm.

Police and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service have launched a probe into the blaze, which sent a huge plume of smoke into the sky above the city.

Yesterday afternoon, NHS Tayside said it has “established the presence of white asbestos from the building’s roof”.

It said that the risk to the public from the material having caught fire is “negligible” and the ongoing risk to the community is “extremely low”.

However, the board said people with long-term health or respiratory conditions should stay indoors and keep their windows closed until the smoke fully clears.

Smoke was still rising from the ruins yesterday morning and firefighters remain at the scene.

A statement from NHS Tayside said: “Authorities in Dundee, including emergency services, Dundee City Council and NHS Tayside’s public health team, have been working closely following Sunday night’s major fire.

“An investigation into the cause of the blaze, at a building within the Baldovie Industrial Estate, is continuing.

“Tests have also now established the presence of white asbestos from the building’s roof. White asbestos is the most commonly used kind and is often found in roofs and ceilings.

“The public should be reassured advice from NHS Tayside’s public health team, based on international evidence, is the risk to human health from large fires involving asbestos is negligible.”

Picture: Mhairi Edwards. The fire service still working on the fire on Monday.