WATCH: Major Fire Destroys Inverness Shop

Large parts of Inverness city centre are cordoned off this morning after a major fire destroyed a clothing store on Academy Street.

Published 16th Apr 2015

Firefighters have been tackling a blaze in a city centre which led to several road closures.

Emergency services were called to Academy Street, Inverness, at around 10pm last night.

At the height of the incident five fire engines and four specialist appliances were at the scene of the blaze in a building which houses a shop and a beauty salon.

Three fire engines and two aerial height appliances were still at the scene at 7am.

Several roads in the area were closed while emergency services dealt with the incident.

There were no reports of any injuries.

MFR Reporter Derek Ferguson speaks with fire service Group Manager Derek Willkie about the blaze...

Group Manager Dave Leishman, who has been at the scene all night, said: "The fire was well-developed when we arrived. We have successfully managed to contain it to the immediate property and stopped it spreading to the surrounding premises.

"Fire crews did an excellent job and operated in very arduous conditions to gain control of the incident. We worked closely in partnership with Police Scotland, Scottish Ambulance Service, Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) and Scottish Water, who all provided crucial assistance at the incident ground.

"I would also like to thank the staff at Wetherspoons public house and the Pentahotel for very kindly providing refreshments for the crews during the incident."

He added: "An investigation into the cause will be carried out along with our partners at Police Scotland when the premises has been deemed safe to enter."

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