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Teenager arrested over fire at former primary school

James Delaney
BBC Scotland News
STUART COWPER An aerial shot of the fire at the former primary school. A large column of orange smoke can be seen blowing over the city. The school is glowing orange with fire below.STUART COWPER
One eyewitness described seeing a 'tornado of fire and smoke' coming from the roof of the building

A teenager has been arrested over a fire at a former primary school in Perth.

An eyewitness described seeing a "tornado of fire and smoke" at the old Balhousie Primary School building on Muirton Place shortly after midnight on Sunday.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) dispatched six crews and two height appliances to the scene, with firefighters continuing to battle back the blaze into the early hours.

An 18-year-old man has been arrested in connection with wilful fire-raising and was released pending further inquiries.

Police Scotland said the fire was being treated as unexplained.

Two crews and a height appliance remain on the scene on Sunday morning to carry out dampening down work, the SFRS said.

There were not thought to be any casualties, but a number of properties were evacuated as a precaution.

Residents have since been allowed to return home.

STUART COWPER A large fire at a former primary school in Perth. The fire is bright orange and can be seen coming out of the top of the building, which is dark. The sky is also dark.STUART COWPER
Fire crews were called to the former Balhousie Primary shortly after midnight on Sunday

The owner of a local shop told BBC Scotland News: "I drove past at about 01:30 and the roof had collapsed.

"There was a full fire-smoke tornado engulfing the building.

"The flames began to subside about an hour later and the red glow was almost completely gone by about 03:30."

She added staff at a local garage had provided coffee and water to emergency responders, while a nearby branch of McDonald's had handed out food.

Fire crews spraying water at the school building. There is a red plastic fence in the foreground of the picture.
Fire crews remained on the scene on Sunday morning to carry out dampening work

Dunkeld Road, Balhousie Street and Muirton Place remain closed off and police are asking the public to avoid the area.

Nearby residents were warned to keep their windows and doors closed due to smoke coming from the scene.

Balhousie Primary School was closed in 2023 when pupils were moved to the new Riverside Primary.

A police car parked in front of the school. The roof has been worn away by the fire. There is a red plastic fence in the foreground, parked behind a police patrol car.
Police said inquiries into the fire were ongoing

It is the second major fire to hit a building in the city in the space of a week after a tenement on the corner of South Street and Scott Street was destroyed last Saturday.

A man died and an eight-year-old girl was taken to hospital, while Perth and Kinross Council said the building would have to be completely demolished due to the damage.