Investigations are continuing into the cause of a blaze in a Dundee multi-storey block early on Wednesday, in which an elderly man lost his life.
The man was named locally as David Baillie, believed to be the 86-year-old resident of the flat on the 14th floor of Adamson Court in Lochee.
Father Aldo Angelosanto of St Mary’s Lochee said that Mr Baillie was a faithful parishioner.
He said, “He had been in hospital recently and I saw him at Ninewells, but despite his illness he made every effort to come to church during the recent bad weather.
“He was well-known in Lochee, well loved and well respected by the parishioners at St Mary’s. He was a faithful soul and a good man.”
He added, “I would see him struggle uphill and then he would take a taxi to come to church.
“I am sorry to hear of his death and his is a sad loss.”
All properties in Adamson Court are fitted with hard-wired smoke detectors and a further sensor in the kitchen.
Mr Baillie was the sole occupant of the flat at 14G, and was pronounced dead at the scene.
One other person in the block was treated for smoke inhalation.Neighbours ‘terrified’The fire ripped through his home and smoke could be seen billowing from the window as firefighters arrived at around 5.40am.
Firefighters were forced to evacuate 12 people from six nearby flats because of the ferocity of the blaze, which spread to the flat above and caused considerable damage to the close.
Colin Ewen (28), who lives in the flat directly above, said, “I was woken at about 5.30am by the fire alarm going off.
“I could hear crackling in the living room and when I looked out the window I could see flames licking up the side of the building.
“I ripped off the curtains to get a better look and then the window smashed in on me and I got covered in glass luckily I didn’t hurt myself.”
He added, “I was terrified and just had to get out of the building I didn’t want to wait for the fire brigade.”
Mr Ewen said his flat was gutted by the blaze.
Andrea Westwater (28) and her friend Elizabeth McGuire (28) woke to the sound of banging on the door of her 15th-floor flat.
Ms Westwater said, “The fireman told us to stay in the flat, lay on the floor and cover ourselves with a quilt.
“We did what he said but I could hear everything happening and I thought I was going to die.”
She added, “I could hear cracking and banging and screaming and the firefighters running all about the place it was horrible and I just kept crying and crying because I was so terrified.”‘Substantial damage’Four appliances one from Macalpine Road, two from Blackness Road and an appliance and a command support unit from Kingsway East attended.
Station manager Mark Crush of Tayside Fire and Rescue said, “We could see the flames coming out of the side of the building as we arrived.
“There was heavy smoke-logging on the 15th floor and we had to force entry to the flat. Once we got inside there was an intense heat and we could see there was severe fire and smoke damage.
“Because of the way these multis have been constructed, and because they are fitted with smoke alarms, they are actually quite safe but you can get smoke travel.
“We had to force entry to around six flats, undertake thorough searches and evacuate the occupants. There were some others who had already exited the building.”
He added, “The fire caused substantial damage to the flat and some damage to the one above.”
Mr Crush said it was too soon to say what had caused the blaze.
Affected neighbours were taken to a local housing office for shelter and most were able to return home later in the day. A small number of tenants are in alternative accommodation but it is hoped they will be back home this week.
Six ambulance crews attended and paramedics treated one person for smoke inhalation.