Dumfries convent on fire for second time in nine months
Emergency services were alerted to the blaze just before 7.30pm
Last updated 17th May 2023
Emergency services are tackling a blaze at the former St Benedict's Convent on Maxwell Street in Dumfries.
The fire was reported shortly before 7.30pm on Tuesday evening and is the second at the abandoned building on Corbelly Hill in just nine months.
This morning (6am) five appliances remain at the scene although there have not been any casualites.
Residents in the area surrounding the convent were urged to close their windows due to the smoke.
Maxwell Street, Rosemount Street, Laurieknowe, Church Street, Mill Road and Corberry Avenue are closed.
A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “We were alerted at 7.25pm on Tuesday, May 16 to reports of a building on fire at Maxwell Street, Dumfries.
“Operations Control mobilised six fire appliances to the area and firefighters are currently working to extinguish a fire affecting a building.
“There are no reported casualties at this time and crews are still at the scene.”
'Upsetting' for Dumfries
The historic building dates back to 1884 and was the setting for Peter Mullan's 2002 film The Magdalene Sisters.
Maisie Copeland, who works in Sweet Sadie's Ice Cream and Dessert shop nearby told Greatest Hits Radio News: "Everyone was saying they could see it from all sides of the town. It's quite worrying.
"It's a historic building for Dumfries. There were people who've just moved from Glasgow who were asking about it and it was quite upsetting to say this is the second time it's happened.
"It's been quite congested and busy, police are stopping everyone and it's been quite hectic."