BREAKING NEWS: Residents flee as fire breaks out in Inverness flat block
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People fled their homes after a fire broke out in an Inverness city centre block of flats this morning.
Two fire crews, some wearing breathing apparatus because of the thick smoke in the flat, tackled the fire and quickly brought it under control.
The outbreak in Kenneth Buildings off Kenneth Street, was confined to a ground floor flat in a small block run by Highland Council.
The occupant had left the flat before the alarm was raised by one of his neighbours Campbell Stewart (77) who lives in No 1.
Mr Stewart, who uses a mobility scooter, said: "It was the smell of the smoke that alerted me first.
"When I went out to check where it was coming from there was smoke pouring out from the flat next door so immediately phoned the fire brigade.
"Everyone who was there got out safely that was the main thing."
The alarm was raised at 9.52 am and the fire was under control at 10.36 am said a spokeswoman for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS).
Two appliances from Inverness attended, and a third from Drumnadrochit was mobilised also.
Four firefighters donned breathing apparatus to tackled the outbreak using two hose reel jets.
The spokeswoman added that no casualties were reported and the SFRS left the incident in the hands of the police at 11.22 am. No details of damage were available.
A Highland Council spokesperson said: “We are aware of the fire at one of our flats in Kenneth Street, Inverness earlier today. Council staff have been in attendance and we are continuing to liaise with Police Scotland and Scottish Fire and Rescue Service over this incident in line with normal procedures.”
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "Enquiries are ongoing."
