A fire that forced multiple flats in Aberdeen to be evacuated on Monday evening is being treated as deliberate, according to authorities.
Emergency services responded to Richmond Walk in the Rosemount area just after 20:20 on Monday. According to BBC News, one person received treatment at the scene for smoke inhalation effects, while a number of properties were evacuated as a precaution.
Police Scotland confirmed the fire is being treated as wilful, with investigations underway to determine the full circumstances surrounding the incident. A Police Scotland spokesperson stated:
"We were called to a report of a fire at a block of flats in Richmond Walk. Emergency services attended and a number of properties were evacuated. The fire is being treated as wilful and inquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances."
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service deployed four fire appliances to tackle the blaze. Firefighting crews remained at the scene for more than three hours before operations concluded. The service confirmed that one casualty was treated at the location.
This incident follows a pattern of deliberate fires being investigated across Scotland. In June 2026, police investigated a large fire at a derelict warehouse in West Lothian as deliberate, with fire crews working for 10 hours to control that blaze. Similarly, in September 2026, police treated a fire that destroyed a Glasgow tenement roof as wilful, with detectives investigating the blaze at a building undergoing significant refurbishment.
What happens next?
Police Scotland continues its investigation into the circumstances of the Richmond Walk fire. Members of the public with information about the incident are encouraged to contact local police with any details that may assist the ongoing inquiry.
