Update on details of fire at former shop in Thurso town centre
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) issued an update on the incident in Thurso yesterday when a fire broke out at the former M&Co shop in the town centre.
The former shop has been lying empty since the clothing company vacated the premises in 2023 and was subsequently bought by local businesswoman Michelle Dinger.
An SFRS spokesperson said: “We were alerted at 6.55pm on Sunday, 21 April, to reports of a building fire at the former M&Co building on Rotterdam Street in Thurso.
“Operations Control initially mobilised two appliances to the scene, and on arrival, firefighters found a well-lit fire in the boiler room of the ground floor.
“A further four appliances were requested, and crews left the scene around 9.46pm after ensuring the area was made safe.
“There were no casualties.”
The former shop had been the source of controversy before when fencing was erected around it as a safety measure against the possible fall of unsafe masonry from the roof.
The Heras fencing surrounding it was widely condemned as being unsightly and a hazard to pedestrians, especially disabled people. There was also an incident when the path of an ambulance was impeded by it when an elderly woman fell in the precinct.
The fencing was removed in August last year, but the shop remained empty with no sign of work to improve it.