Fast-acting firefighters prevented a potentially catastrophic blaze from spreading through a block of flats in Aberdeen.
Crews were called to Mastrick Road at 11.15am yesterday after a “well-developed” fire took hold in a top floor flat and locals spotted smoke billowing from the roof.
Fire service group leader Ally Birkett said the blaze could have spread along the roof space shared by the entire block of 12 flats and caused untold devastation if not for the quick response of the teams.
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Mr Birkett confirmed that there were no casualties, but several residents were evacuated from the building.
Crews had to break down the door of another top floor flat to rescue a small white dog.
Neighbours said the pet, which they describe as extremely friendly, was bleeding from scratching at the door by the time it was carried from the building.
Mr Birkett praised the efforts of the teams from the city’s Central, North Anderson Drive and Altens stations, who received support from units based in Banchory, Stonehaven and Kintore.
He said: “The veranda area of the flat was well alight, with the fire penetrating into the roof space.
“Crews worked very hard and in very difficult conditions to quickly bring it under control and prevent it spreading to all along the roof and to other flats.
“But there has been structural damage to the roof.”
Fire crews remained on the scene for hours damping down the affected flat throughout the afternoon and a stretch of Mastrick Road remained closed for several hours.
Leon Milne, an 18-year-old cleaner who lives nearby, was first to raise the alarm.
He said: “At first I thought the smoke was coming from a chimney but then realised there was so much of it, and after I called 999 the firefighters were here within five minutes.”
Among the evacuated residents was mum-of-two Jaime Smith, who lives on the ground floor.
She was having “40 winks” when she was awoken by the sound of raised voices outside her window.
She added: “I heard a lot of voices and saw people running past the window and pointing up to the top floor.”