PICTURES and VIDEO: Wick firefighters tackle Watten blaze
A major blaze destroyed an outhouse building next to a Watten hotel last night with fire crews from Wick bringing it under control just after 1am today (December 3).
Flames and sparks were seen shooting into the air at around 11pm from the building beside the Brown Trout Hotel on Station Road. Loud cracks and pops could be heard from inside the building as the fire extended from the east side of the structure and rapidly made its way across its full length.
A spokesperson for Scottish Fire and Rescue Services (SFRS) said: “We got the call at 23.05 and the appliances included two pumps from Wick. The road was closed and it was a shed or outbuilding [on fire] and no casualties were reported. A nearby hotel was evacuated as a precaution.
“Two jets were used and crews were informed that there were Calor gas bottles inside. They managed to get it under control and extinguished at 1.11am. Crews have now left the scene after ensuring the area was safe.”
The SFRS media contact went on to say that the crews noted the roof was constructed from corrugated asbestos sheets and Highland Council’s building control team will be informed for health and safety considerations.
Police Scotland said it had officers attending to assist with traffic management at the site and an area of the A882 was cordoned off as the blaze was tackled.
An officer at the scene urged residents to stand well back due to the presence of the asbestos in the building’s roofing panels.
During fires, tiny fragments of asbestos containing material (ACM) can be carried in the smoke plume. As the majority of asbestos fibres are held tightly within the ACM they are not released into the air and this minimises the health risk.
A member of staff at the hotel said that Calor gas bottles had been safely removed from the building and could be seen resting outside this morning.
The building had been used as a laundry by the hotel and the remnants of washing machines and similar appliances were visible through the charred windows today. The source of the fire is unknown as these appliances were reportedly not in use at the time.
Hotel residents and a few local people watched as the event took place and several of the men said they were staying there while working on wind farms close by. The A882 was briefly closed while the fire was tackled but is now open.
