Fire causes 'devastating damage' to Aberdeen restaurant as person in hospital

A fire that left a person in hospital has caused “devastating damage” to a restaurant in Aberdeen city centre.

Firefighters were called to a “well alight” blaze at Vovem Restaurant on Union Street around 11.55am on Thursday with one patient taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.

Summer Street, Union Wynd and Little Chapel Street were closed by police while six fire engines and specialist resources were sent to the scene.

Vovem Restaurant on Union Street said all members of staff were evacuated. Fubar News

All roads reopened after 5.30pm.

The steakhouse has issued a statement saying it was closed until further notice after “devastating damage” to the building caused by the fire.

They said all members of staff were evacuated.

A statement on Facebook read: “Following a major incident at Vovem, whereby thankfully all of our team were successfully evacuated, we are sad to inform our customers that we are closed for business until further notice.

“Due to the devastating damage to our venue, our team is working closely with the relevant parties.

“Please be patient whilst our management team works through our bookings and they will be in touch in due course.

“If you do have any booking queries, please get in touch on vovem@pbdevco.com.

“Thank you for your understanding at this time and we hope to bring you some positive news soon.”

A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “We were alerted at 11.46am on Thursday, September 26 to reports of a commercial building fire in Union Street, Aberdeen.

“Operations Control immediately mobilised six appliances and other specialist resources to the scene where firefighters found Vovem Restaurant to be well alight.

“Crews are currently on scene as they work to make the area safe.

“No casualties have been reported.”

A Police Scotland statement read: “All roads have now reopened following an earlier fire on Union Street in Aberdeen. We’d like to thank everyone for their patience.”

A spokesperson for the Scottish Ambulance Service added: “We received a call from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to attend an incident on Union Street in Aberdeen.

“We have dispatched our special operations team (SORT) to the scene.

“We transported one patient to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.”