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Brave firefighters 'saved many lives' in Perth blaze

BBC A burned-out building is cordoned off by a fence, with a fire engine in the centre of the picture BBC
About 50 families have been affected by the blaze in Perth

The rapid response of "brave firefighters" saved many lives during a tenement blaze in Perth over the weekend, a council meeting has heard.

Deputy council leader Eric Drysdale said that the internal stairwell of the building on the corner of Scott Street and South Street had been destroyed during the fire, leaving no other means of escape for residents.

A man died and two people - an eight-year-old girl and a 27-year-old man - were taken to hospital following the fire, which broke out at about 01:50 on Saturday.

Cllr Drysdale said the girl had sustained serious injuries in the blaze, but was now "on the road to recovery."

Two firefighters, one of whom was struck by falling masonry, were given medical treatment.

The entire building will be demolished as a result of the blaze and 50 families have been affected.

Cllr Drysdale told the meeting - convened to discuss financial aid for tenants and businesses - that the emergency services had responded "magnificently."

He said: "On arrival, without hesitating, our brave firefighters proceeded towards what had already become an inferno and were able to rescue many residents from upper floor windows after the internal stairwell had already been destroyed by the fire leaving no other means of escape."

The councillor said that it was "very clear" that the rapid response and evacuation tactics saved "many lives."

Speaking about the residents, he said: "One minute most, if not all of them, were fast asleep in bed, the next they awoke in terror with flames and smoke in the stairway and entering their homes.

"Some in lower floors planned their escape by lowering bedsheets out of windows while others stood at windows shouting to be rescued.

"All wearing nothing but their nightclothes, and all set to leave their homes and all their worldly possessions behind."

The councillor also thanked the nearby Salutation Hotel for looking after the evacuated residents, and the kindness of the local community.

A broken window in a close-up of a red brick tenement building
Many residents were rescued from upper-floor windows after the building's stairwell collapsed

Councillors were told that about 70 businesses had approached the local authority for help following the fire.

The Scottish government has also pledged its support.

Perth and Kinross Council's chief financial officer Scott Walker said the authority is required to contribute the first £850,000 towards the significant costs associated with the incident response - largely the demolition of the unsafe building.

Councillors will be asked on Wednesday to consider allocating financial support from the council budget to those most affected by the incident.

Story by Kathryn Anderson, Local Democracy Reporting Service