FIREFIGHTERS are still at the scene of a blaze in Airdrie more than 12 hours after it was first reported.
We previously reported the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) was called to the town's Chapel Street at around 5.10pm yesterday (April 5) after a fire broke out in a derelict building near to New Open Kitchen takeaway.
An SFRS spokesperson confirmed fire crews remain "at work" at the scene this morning with one fire appliance and one high-reach appliance in attendance.
Police are also assisting the SFRS and Chapel Street is currently closed to traffic.
The cause of the fire is not yet known.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "Around 5.20pm on Friday, April 5, 2024, police received a report of a fire at an abandoned building in the Chapel Street area of Airdrie.
"Officers are assisting the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service at the scene and the road is currently closed."
Images taken by local resident Matt McCulloch yesterday evening show the roof has been completely destroyed by the inferno with smoke seen billowing out of the building.
Mr McCulloch alerted emergency services to the fire after he smelt burning.
He told the Glasgow Times on Friday evening: "The fire started at around 5.10pm and I made the first call at about 5.14pm because we were all unsure as to whether it was someone burning rubbish or not.
"I came back after going home 20 minutes later and it was chaos.
"The roof was ablaze and fire crews and police started to cordon off the whole area, and now at 8pm almost every entry point is cordoned off.
"Initially, when I called 999, I knew the fire crew would need access and there were a few people's cars in the way that were inside New Open Kitchen.
"I directed them to move their cars, and assisted in getting the whole area clear.
"The smoke could be seen and smelled all the way to Centenary Way by the viaduct."
He continued: "The situation escalated and the roof started to lose structural integrity.
"That's when the fire crew started to rush about with hoses and the police took a more hardline stance with the cordon, manually directing traffic and shutting off access points.
"That's when you realise how serious it is."
Mr McCulloch managed to get pictures of the scene using his drone.
He said: "I do drone surveying as well as landscape photography so I always have my drone with me, and I decided to get it up in the sky to get the footage and pictures."
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