RESIDENTS at Dunfermline's Broomhead Flats had a shock wake-up call in the early hours of Thursday when a fire broke out in one of the flats.

Fire crews rushed to the Canmore tower block after being alerted around 5.15am, with five fire engines deployed due to the potential risk to lives at the high-rise flats.

Police and the ambulance service also raced to the scene, where smoke was seen billowing out the windows of a fifth-floor council property.

The Press understands the flat is occupied by a woman, but nobody was home at the time.

Her “shocked” neighbour, who did not want to be named, told the Press: “I'm across the landing from the flat and woke up around 4.50am after hearing the smoke alarm go off next door.

“I was going to go back to sleep but it kept on ringing for another 20 minutes, then I heard the janitor talking outside in the hallway.

“I thought, what's going on here, and looked out my veranda and saw black smoke coming out from next door's flat. There was smoke coming out all the windows and bedrooms.

“The fire brigade arrived and they were shouting up to me if it was my flat on fire, and then told me to get out of the house quickly.

“I chucked my work clothes on – I started work at 8am and didn't know how long it would be before we would be allowed back in – and ran out.

“About 20 folk got evacuated and the community flat across the road was opened for people to have a cup of tea and wait until things blew over.”

Fire crews broke the door of the flat down and quickly got the blaze under control. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service confirmed nobody was injured, but that there had been electrical damage to the flat.

The neighbour continued: “Smoke had risen to other flats and we were lucky it didn't spread. Folk from other blocks had come out as well.

“The fire brigade chapped on doors upstairs and downstairs – they dealt with it pretty quickly and stopped it spreading.

“The fire marshal said the cooker had been left on and that something had fallen on it, that's what set it ablaze.

“We were allowed back in at 6.30am and coming back up the stairs you could still hear the smoke alarm going off and it still felt quite hot.

“The fire brigade stayed around another hour making sure everything was damped down – they were still there when I left for work.

“My neighbour only moved in about a year ago and I think she was working the night shift. To come home to that – what a shame.

“Everything would be ruined in there, both bedrooms and her valuables. You can see the curtains are all black from the smoke.

“I'm just glad nobody was hurt but it's been a real shock – I'll be turning all my plugs off at night!”

Fife Council confirmed that the tenant had not been home at the time and that alternative arrangements have been made. The council is assessing the damage.