Blaze heroes 'saved many lives'

Perth and Kinross Council will seek to offer financial support to those affected by the fatal fire in Perth at the weekend.

- KATHRYN ANDERSON

Depute council leader Eric Drysdale today praised the professionalism and courage of emergency services who “responded magnificently” and saved many lives.

In the early hours of Saturday, June 14, police officers discovered a fire had broken out at 41 Scott Street; emergency services attended and one man was pronounced dead at the scene.

An eight-year-old girl and 27-year-old man were taken to hospital for treatment. Two firefighters also sustained injuries and received medical attention.

At a meeting of Perth and Kinross Council on Wednesday, June 18 deputy leader Eric Drysdale expressed “deep gratitude” to those involved in Saturday morning’s rescue effort.

The Perth city centre councillor said: “Our emergency services responded magnificently in our community's hour of need, and we are deeply indebted to them all and in particular, on this occasion, our brave firefighters who converged on Scott Street from Perth Fire Station and across the wider region.

“On arrival, without hesitating, our brave firefighters proceeded towards what had already become an inferno and were able to rescue many residents from upper floor windows after the internal stairwell had already been destroyed by the fire leaving no other means of escape.

“Yesterday - along with the First Minister and ward colleagues Cllr Peter Barrett and Bailie Ahern - I was briefed in more detail about the events of Saturday morning, and it is very clear that both the rapid response and the evacuation tactics deployed did save many lives.

“This incident could have ended up so much worse than it did, and I am sure we are all truly grateful for the professionalism and courage of these first responders.