A fire tore through a north-east home yesterday.
Banff’s High Street was closed to traffic for around two hours, so that emergency crews could tackle the blaze at the top floor property.
Around 30 firefighters from across Aberdeenshire and Moray were called to the incident at 2.30pm.
Six fire engines and a specialist height vehicle were drafted in for the operation on the town’s main thoroughfare.
Crews managed to put the fire out in around an hour and a half. The flat was empty at the time and there were no injuries.
Residents living nearby, in addition to staff and customers from neighbouring shops were evacuated so fire fighters could deal with the incident.
Many retailers chose to close for the day as a result.
The High Street forms part of the busy A98 Banff to Portsoy road and its closure meant vehicles were turned away by police officers guarding the cordon.
An ambulance was also called to the scene.
Police said all of the nearby properties were evacuated and everyone was “accounted for at the time” after returning to their buildings.
Banff councillor John Cox praised those who responded to the 999 call and thanked them for their efforts.
He said “A big thanks to the emergency services and my thoughts are with those living in the area.”
A fire service spokeswoman confirmed details of their operation and said they called in crews from around the north-east to help put it out.
She said: “We first received reports of a fire on High Street in Banff at 2.29pm.
“It was shops and dwellings – no one was inside and there were no casualties.
“There were six pumps there from different areas, they were from Banff, Macduff, Aberchirder, Turriff, Keith and Buckie.”
“The stop call came through at 3.49pm.”
Police confirmed they called to assist the fire service and the closure of the High Street was “temporary.”
A spokesman for the force said: “High Street was closed with all shops and persons evacuated and accounted for at the time.
“The road closure was temporary.”
