Nearly 30 firefighters tackled a blaze at a former clothes shop in Aberdeen city centre yesterday.
The fire broke out at the former Gap store, near the St Nicholas Centre, at about 3pm.
Six units and a height vehicle from Central Station, North Anderson Drive, Dyce, Kintore and Ellon tackled the flames on the third floor of the building.
The former shop is currently being transformed into four units, which will include a Five Guys burger restaurant, TSB bank and Schuh store.
Police sealed off the area to shoppers while firefighters worked for about an hour to extinguish the flames.
Station manager Gordon Riddel said: “We were called to a fire on the third floor of the former Gap building.
“It was reported to us by workers who had been using welding torches.
“We were faced with heavy smoke.
“We used eight breathing apparatus, a hosereel jet and thermal imaging to identity, locate and extinguish the fire.
“It was contained to one room and it was out in 45 minutes to an hour.”
One witness, who did not wish to be named said: “All I saw was the area being cordoned off and fire engines rushing in.
“The police arrived and cleared everyone out of the area.”
Emergency services left the scene just before 5pm, and the area was reopened to pedestrians.
It is the second time this year that firefighters have been called to the shop.
In February, two crews were sent to the building and worked for about 45 minutes to combat the fire.
Gap closed its doors earlier this year, and plans were approved last month for the site to be split into four separate
units.
