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FLAMES lit up the night sky in Inverness as dozens of firefighters tackled a major blaze at a derelict city building.

A total of 31 firefighters were involved in combating the fire at a premises in Thornbush Road in South Kessock when the blaze was its height.

Four crews from Inverness were joined by two appliances from the Dingwall area, with a large amount of smoke spreading into the surrounding area.

The alarm was raised at 6.48pm on Wednesday with the building “well alight” by the time fire crews arrived according to a fire service spokesman.

Although the building was declared safe at 8.34pm, two appliances returned to check the building yesterday morning after being alerted to what was described as a “slight flare-up”.

There were no reports of any injuries as community leaders confirmed the building had been empty for years.

Merkinch Community Council chairwoman Dell McClurg said she did not know who owned the property, despite efforts having been made over the years to find out.

She said the building, known as Thornbush House, had previously contained a number of workshops.

“The last time I was in that building was way back in the 1970s,” she said. “It is difficult to get in because the door is around the back.”

Inverness Central Councillor Bet McAllister was at a meeting in the nearby community centre when the fire broke out.

“We could hear something was going on,” she said. “The building has been unused for a good number of years though I think two or three cars were parked inside.

“Thankfully no one was injured.”

Police closed the road while firefighters worked to control the blaze and a spokesman for Highland Council said the building’s owner had been in contact with the local authority, though he would not name them.

He said an on-site meeting would be arranged to assess the damage.

“The building may well still be in the care of the emergency services and, once it is handed over, it will be up to the owner to make the necessary arrangements to make the building safe,” he said yesterday.

* Police Scotland said yesterday afternoon that two 12-year-old boys had been charged in connection with the fire and a report will be sent to the Children’s Reporter.

Related article: Fire guts derelict Inverness building in dramatic blaze

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