Man injured in Inverness bar fire blast
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AN INVERNESS bar manager is in hospital after being burned when a fireplace exploded in a sheet of flame.
The drama occurred shortly after 5pm on Monday at the popular Hootananny’s venue and restaurant on Church Street.
It is understood manager Stuart Skinner was working at the fireplace in the main ground floor bar, possibly trying to rekindle it, just as staff were preparing for evening customers.
Staff were reported as seeing Mr Skinner "on fire" and throwing himself on the floor to extinguish the flames.
Staff rushed to help him as fire and ambulance units sped to the scene. No one else was injured.
It is not known yet the extent of Mr Skinner’s injuries and no condition report was available from Raigmore Hospital in the city. It is understood he sustained injuries to his upper and lower body but was able to walk into the ambulance.
A member of the staff said this morning that a clean-up operation was in progress, but it was not known yet when the bar would reopen.
A fire brigade spokesman said an area of wooden floor about 5 metres by 5 metres was damaged and there quite a lot of smoke damage.
Four firefighters wearing breathing apparatus tackled the fire with dry powder, but staff had already contained the flames it is understood.
Firefighters also used a thermal imaging camera to check the area and specialist door opening equipment to gain access to secure areas.
Hootanannys is on three floors, with Mad Hatters bar on the second storey. The third floor is soon to be transformed into a neon-lit cocktail bar.
A squad of painters and decorators working on the top floor were evacuated safely.
