Police to investigate Aberdeen hospital fire

FIRE and Police service experts will today begin their joint investigation to establish the cause of the massive blaze which badly damaged derelict hospital buildings at the Royal Cornhill Hospital complex in Aberdeen on Guy Fawkes night.

The blaze occurred in a former hospital. Picture: Fubar News

More than 70 firefighters were involved in batting the fire at the height of the outbreak and prevented the flames threatening Royal Cornhill, the main psychiatric hospital for patients in the north east.

A total of 15 fire appliances, including four specialist support units, raced to the scene after the fire was discovered shortly after 10pm on Tuesday night.

And the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service revealed today that, after spending almost 24 hours at the scene, firefighters finally left the site at 10pm last night.

A fire service spokesman said: “Crews spent much of the day yesterday carrying out dampening down operations and checking for hot-spots.

Today fire investigators will begin their work in an attempt to establish the cause of the fire. They will carry out a joint investigation with Police Scotland.

“The police are still treating the fire as ‘unexplained’ and have appealed to anyone with information about the fire to call them on 101 or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

Mike Cordiner, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Station Manager in Aberdeen, said: “At around 10pm last night firefighters carried out a full inspection and established that the fire was completely out.

“This morning fire investigators will head to the site to start their investigations. They will be restricted to areas which are deemed safe to enter. Our work will be part of a joint investigation with our colleagues at Police Scotland.”