A huge fire broke out at an Aberdeen hospital last night – just as the Guy Fawkes festivities were dying down.
Firefighters battled to tackle the ferocious blaze in a derelict building at Royal Cornhill Hospital.
Twelve appliances, including four specialist units, were sent to the scene just after 10.30pm, as plumes of black smoke billowed into the sky.
Local councillor Bill Cormie witnessed ferocious flames coming from the building. He said: “I could see it all from my bedroom window. The sky was absolutely full of huge waves of smoke and there were flames everywhere.
“Thankfully it was in an older part of the hospital and no one was in the building.
“It is a coincidence that this has happened on Bonfire Night, and I hope it has not been set on purpose.”
A police spokesman confirmed that the hospital did not have to be evacuated, and no one was injured in the incident.
He said: “We are not able to determine yet what caused the fire, or if it is suspicious. As it is a derelict building it is not likely to be an electrical problem, but we do not know yet.
“The hospital was not evacuated.
“Contingency plans were in place but it is not likely they will have to be acted on.”
Berryden Road was closed at both ends while emergency services dealt with the blaze.
Overstretched firefighters were also called to a number of incidents involving wheelie bins being set on fire in the early evening.