The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Chimney collapse forces evacuation of residents
Perth residents had to be evacuated from their homes yesterday afternoon after a section of a building collapsed.
A chimney stack and a section of brickwork on the Friar Street building came crashing down around midday.
The debris fell on to a number of council bins in a gated-off grass area just off the street.
Police confirmed there were no injuries following the collapse.
The fire service used cherry picking equipment shortly afterwards to deal with the fallen debris.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service was called to the scene just after midday yesterday while police evacuated residents from the affected building.
The fire service confirmed two appliances were still on the scene more than six hours later.
Perth and Kinross Council has advised locals to stay away from the area on Friar Street, which has been closed between Abbot Street and Queen Street, “for the foreseeable future”.
The council is supporting residents who may be in
need of emergency accommodation.
One neighbour, who did not want to be named, said: “I can’t believe what I am looking at. All the chimney pipes are completely exposed and it looks like half the outer wall has fallen down with it. It’s really unsettling and worrying to see – it must have been so scary for those who live there.
“When I went out for my milk in the morning I walked past that building and everything was completely fine, but next thing I know it’s all fallen down.
“Most of the buildings around here are Victorian, but you don’t expect them to just collapse like that.
“Thankfully the rubble seems to have landed on the grass so hopefully no one got hurt, and it doesn’t look like it has hit the house next door.”
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 12.10pm on Monday January 17 police were called to the Friar Street area of Perth, following reports of a chimney collapsing.
“There were no injuries, but residents from a number of properties have been evacuated whilst safety checks are ongoing.”
A spokesperson for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service added: “We got the first call at 12.12pm regarding a collapsed chimney on Friar Street in Perth.
“The first appliance arrived on the scene at 12.16pm.”
A Perth and Kinross Council spokesperson said: “Fortunately, it appears no one was hurt in this incident.
“However, a number of properties have been evacuated, and our housing team is supporting those residents who need emergency accommodation.
“We are also supporting requests from Police Scotland and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service in relation to fencing and a structural engineer.”