A man has told of the moment a Scone house went up in flames – as police probe a potential link to a car fire in nearby Perth.
An investigation is under way after the property on Catmoor Avenue was damaged in the blaze on Tuesday night.
Around the same time a vehicle was found alight on Gowans Terrace in Perth, about three miles away.
No-one was injured in either fire.
Peter Dennis, who lives on Catmoor Avenue, was taking his bin out at around 11.15pm when he heard a fire alarm going off, and called 999.
Ash and soot by front door
No one was inside at the time.
He told The Courier: “I saw smoke through the letterbox.
“I then heard a hissing sound which I think was the sprinkler system putting the fire out.
“The operator on the phone was asking me a lot of questions and asking what I could see, so I got a torch and shone it through the windows to find out what I could see.
“That is when I saw ash and some soot by the front door.
“The police turned up first and tried to gain access to the house, and one of the officers had to put his foot through the door to get access.
“The fire engine turned up a couple of minutes later; they arrived very, very quickly despite struggling to find the address because these houses are only a year old, so weren’t on their system.”
Some residents were evacuated for more than an hour while crews put the fire out.
Peter thinks the blaze was started deliberately using the letter box.
‘It has left everyone a bit shaken up’
He said: “It’s quite upsetting. It gives you a sense of vulnerability, you never anticipate or expect these kinds of things to happen.
“I was also a little scared and worried about the people living directly next door in case the smoke had spread to their house too.
“I think it has left everyone, me and my kids included, a bit shaken up.”
Police have appealed for information over both fires and officers are considering whether the incidents are linked.
A spokesperson said: “Anyone who was in the area of either Gowans Terrace, Perth or Catmoor Avenue, Scone around 11pm on Tuesday and saw anything suspicious or has dashcam footage is urged to contact Police Scotland on 101 quoting reference 3625 of March 1.
“Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
