The Salvation Army has praised a quick-thinking janitor who dragged a man to safety after fire broke out in a Dundee homeless unit.
The caretaker at Burnside Mill in Milnes East Wynd was alerted to the drama at 11.30pm on Friday when a blaze in the kitchen of the first-floor flat triggered the building’s smoke alarm.
As the rest of the building was evacuated the caretaker made his way into the flat and dragged the male occupant to safety.
He received minor burns to his hands as a result and both he and the flat’s occupant required hospital treatment for smoke inhalation.
Neither man’s injuries were life-threatening.
Tayside Fire and Rescue said an unattended chip pan had caused the blaze.
Two firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used a carbon dioxide extinguisher to put out the flames before the blaze spread or caused serious damage to the rest of the flat.
Burnside Mill provides accommodation and support for people who have been sleeping rough.
Although Hillcrest Housing Association owns the building, the Salvation Army manages it and helps people who have been homeless adapt to the responsibility of living on their own.
A spokesman for The Salvation Army said, “We can confirm that a small fire took place late on Friday evening within one of the self-contained flats at Burnside Mill.Evacuate”Salvation Army staff immediately contacted the fire service and followed procedures to evacuate the building and all 20 service users.
“We must commend the quick action of one of our staff members who helped a resident to safety from the kitchen fire.
“Thankfully, this situation was under control very quickly with no serious injuries.
“Following this incident, we have invited Tayside Fire and Rescue to meet with our service users and provide fire safety advice as part of our continuing outreach programme.
Tayside Fire and Rescue group manager Rab Middlemiss said the caretaker’s prompt reaction might have saved the resident’s life.
He said, “Recently within Tayside and across Scotland we have tragically seen a number of fatal fires, often these attributable to a combination of smoking and drinking alcohol.
“Thankfully on this occasion all the residents were alerted promptly by hardwired-linked smoke alarms throughout this property and quickly evacuated to a safe area.
“If it hadn’t been for the prompt actions of the caretaker, neighbours, fire control staff, fire crews and paramedics that attended this incident the consequences could’ve been far more serious. I can’t praise the actions of those involved highly enough.
“This should serve as a stark reminder to the public of the danger of fire within their homes and the need to have working and regularly tested smoke alarms fitted.
“It also highlighted the benefits of having a well rehearsed fire action plan so people know how to act should they discover or are trapped by a fire in their home.”