An elderly man died after a fire at a Perthshire sheltered housing complex at the weekend but a working fire alarm system and swift action by fire crews prevented a potentiallly greater loss of life.
While the man sadly lost his life, residents of the other 12 properties in the main building at Servite House, Errol, were saved by the speedy reaction of the emergency service.
Fire crews from Perth and Dundee were on the scene within minutes and quickly extinguished the flames, containing them to the victim’s one-bedroom flat.
Gordon McKenzie, group manager for Tayside Fire and Rescue, said: ”The fire alarm system within Servite House was working and did its job. There is no reason for other residents to be concerned because the fire alarm has now been reset and is back up and running.”
Crews from Perth Community Fire Station were first on the scene at around 5am on Saturday in response to reports of a fire alarm going off in one of the homes. They swiftly discovered a blaze in a flat and were informed by staff that someone was still inside.
An additional engine from Macalpine Road in Dundee and an ambulance were also called out. Firefighters forced entry to the man’s flat. They quickly found him and took him out of the property.
Despite the best efforts of firefighters, the Scottish Ambulance Service and medical staff at Ninewells Hospital the pensioner died.
Crews remained at the Errol complex for hours to ensure there was no further danger, with thermal imaging cameras used to look for hot-spots.
Mr McKenzie said that a joint investigation will take place to establish the cause of the fire, but confirmed there are no suspicious circumstances.
”This has just been a tragic accident,” he said. ”The fire was confined to one area of the living room, but we will not know the cause until the full investigation takes place.
”I carried out a preliminary investigation on Saturday, however, and there were no suspicious circumstances. A full fire investigation will be taking place on Tuesday as part of a joint operation between Tayside Fire and Rescue and Tayside Police and I will also submit my findings to that.”
In a statement issued by Tayside Fire and Rescue, the crews extended their sympathies to the family and friends of the dead man and the wider community of Errol.
Staff and residents at Servite House, part of the Caledonia Housing Association group, were left devastated. They described a tight-knit and friendly community and said many people would be hurting as a result of the tragedy.
In the aftermath of the fire there was little visible external damage to the main building on Viewlands Place.
Caledonia Housing Association’s asset management director Andrew Kilpatrick visited the complex on Saturday and expressed his sorrow at the loss.
”We are obviously all deeply saddened by this tragic incident, especially the staff who work here and the tenants who are understandably shocked,” he said. ”The police have not yet confirmed the identity of the deceased and will not do so until next of kin have been informed.
”The police will need to carry out their investigations. There is a full fire alarm system within all our properties and the emergency services got here very quickly but unfortunately were unable to save the resident.”
It is understood that few if any other residents had to be evacuated.
One, Sarah Thomson (74), said: ”I woke up about 5am when the fire alarm went off. That happens quite a lot, what with most of the residents being old folk. We were advised not to go outside and to just stay in our homes, but I could see the fire brigade vehicles outside my window.
”It really is very sad. There is a real feeling of community here, with everyone talking to each other.”
Another residents said: ”It is a terrible shame. He was a quiet, nice gentleman, but he largely kept himself to himself and I’m not sure if he had any family.
”We heard the fire alarm and wondered whether it was another false alarm. One of my neighbours popped out and smelt smoke and she called the fire brigade too. Had it not been for her and the alarm I hate to think what could have happened.”