VIDEO: Cars destroyed and home damaged after ‘ferocious’ Dundee fires

by · The Courier

Two “ferocious” fires have destroyed cars and damaged a home on a Dundee street.

Firefighters descended on Charleston Drive in Menzieshill shortly after midnight on Thursday.

A dramatic video showed flames shooting from both vehicles just yards apart – a short distance from the entrance to Ninewells Hospital.

The heat of the fire warped panels on a nearby house and caused minor damage to a third car on the street.

Police say at least one car deliberately set on fire

Officers from CID and forensics inspected the scene later on Thursday morning.

Police say at least one of the cars was deliberately set on fire.

The woman who lives in the damaged house – who did not want to be named – told The Courier: “I was woken up by the fires, of course.

“None of the vehicles are mine but some panels on the home are damaged as a result.

Firefighters tackling the blaze. Image: Supplied
Panels on a nearby home appear to have been warped by the heat. Image: Andrew Robson/DC Thomson

“The first thing I knew about the damage was when when the fireman asked me if I had home insurance.

“Thankfully I do and I’m away to get that sorted this morning.

“It’s really quite frightening this can happen on your doorstep.”

One resident told The Courier the road was closed while crews dealt with the  fires.

Officers from CID and forensics inspecting the scene. Image: Andrew Robson/DC Thomson
Police are investigating. Image: Andrew Robson/DC Thomson

He said: “There were two vehicles well alight when I came out of my house.

“The blaze was ferocious, and the flames were actually covering part of the road.

“The firefighters were lashing water on it.”

One woman who lives across from where the fires happened said: “I heard a loud bang just after midnight, I actually thought it was the sound of a bin being slammed shut, but when I looked outside I could see both cars totally engulfed in flames.”

Another resident said: “It’s not the most surprising thing given everything that goes on up here, it been crazy over the last few months.”

One of the damaged cars. Image: Andrew Robson/DC Thomson
The area is taped off. Image: Andrew Robson/DC Thomson

A spokesperson for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said: “At 12.17am on Thursday we received reports of a car fire on Charleston Drive, Dundee.

“Upon arrival, two cars were alight and these were then extinguished by crews.

“We received the stop message at 1.04am.”

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 12.20am on Thursday, police were called to Charleston Drive, Dundee, following a report of three cars being damaged after at least one was deliberately set alight.

“Inquiries are continuing.”