Emergency services were called to a blaze in Moray town centre last night after flames ripped through the top of a garage.
Shards of roof were scattered on the ground in Elgin’s Moss Street car park after a mattress caught fire inside the lock-ups at the site.
Fire crews reported seeing flames breaking through the top of the garage as well as flicking out of the open door when they arrived.
A member of the public summoned the officers to the car park after an emergency call was placed.
One witness, who was visiting family in a nearby home, recalled hearing a “loud bang” before seeing smoke emanating from the privately-owned garages, which back onto the council car park.
She said: “It was a very loud noise and, when I looked outside, I could see there was a fire. I don’t know what caused it, but it certainly gave us a fright.”
Concerned owners of neighbouring garages arrived at the scene during the evening to check on their belongings. But it is understood the damage was restricted to the single unit.
Fire crews responded to the incident shortly before 7pm and two officers used specialist breathing equipment and a hose to get the blaze under control.
Once the flames were extinguished, officers climbed ladders to douse the roof of the garage after it had burst open.
A protective cordon was set up around the lock-ups as a precaution, due to the possibility of harmful chemicals being contained in the roof fragments.
Firefighters wore protective masks while picking up the shards and had to be subsequently hosed down to prevent any contamination.
Watch manager Stephen Laing explained the fire was brought under control “very quickly” once they arrived at the scene.
He said: “We could see the fire coming through the roof, it had burst through. The garage door was open and there were flames licking out.
“We sent two personnel with a breathing apparatus and hose reel to extinguish it and they did so in pretty quick time.”
