A blaze that trapped the occupants of a block of flats in Perth is under investigation.
Tayside Fire and Rescue and Tayside Police launched a joint investigation into Tuesday’s early-morning fire at 110-130 Strathtay Road.
A police officer guarded the area at which the fire broke out while scenes of crimes officers took away samples for analysis.
While four adults and two children were plucked to safety from a balcony, the remainder of the residents were advised to stay in their homes while firefighters fought the fierce blaze in a storage area on the first floor.
The fire was reported at around 5am and firefighters using breathing apparatus and hose reels moved in to tackle the blaze.
Acrid, dense smoke filled the stairwell and firefighters used a megaphone to reassure the trapped residents.
At the height of the fire there were three Tayside Fire and Rescue units from Perth assisted by one from Dundee and one from Dunkeld.
“It was a very intense blaze,” said station manager Bill Butterworth of Tayside Fire and Rescue. “There was a lot of smoke coming from the fire which was in a storage area.”
Mr Butterworth said a nine metre ladder was used to lead a small number of people from their balcony. He praised the swift response of the fire crews in bringing the fire under control and the police for making sure all the occupants were safe.
“It could have been worse the smoke went into the flats very quickly,” he said.
Mr Butterworth said the value of working smoke alarms was illustrated during the incident, alerting a number of the block”s residents to the danger. Once the blaze was over the residents were checked by ambulance staff but didn”t need medical attention.TrappedThe alarm was raised by Barbara Philbin (56), who was woken by the barking of her German Shepherd puppy Dylan. Opening her door she realised there was a fire in a storage area and dialled 999.
Trapped by the heat and smoke, she escaped through a back window with her husband Mike and grand-daughter Charmaine Sandeman (12).
Also trapped in her home was Senga Capon (43) and her daughter Nicola (11). They remained on their balcony until it was safe to leave. Senga said this had been the third fire in the block in recent years.
Other residents spoke of problems with unauthorised people using the storage area.
“I heard someone there about 2.30am it happens all the time,” said Stephen Donovan, who was staying with his mother Margaret Keay.
They had to put damp towels along the bottom of doors to stop the smoke entering their flat.
The incident brought a busy night to a close for the fire service in Perth.
On Monday evening Atholl Street was closed from 8.15pm as they fought a fire in a bin area in Stormont Hose.
Due to the nature of the fire, occupants were advised to stay within their flats.
Although there were similarities between the two incidents it is not thought that they were connected.