Busy night for firefighters with blazes at hotel and sports centre

Published on Friday 5 November 2010 18:10

A TOTAL of 35 firefighters were involved in bringing a "rapidly developing" blaze at a derelict hotel under control yesterday, as fire services throughout Scotland reported a drop in emergency calls on Bonfire Night.

Strathclyde Fire and Rescue Service was called to the Mount Royal Hotel in Linwood, Renfrewshire, shortly after 11.30pm on Friday.

The service said the blaze was finally brought under control by four firefighters, wearing breathing equipment, who entered the building and used hand-held jets. Firefighters said the crews stopped the blaze spreading from the rear annex to the main part of the two-storey building.

The cause of the fire was not yet known and was being investigated.

Meanwhile, firefighters in the Aberdeen area attended a fire at a derelict building shortly after 2.30am on Saturday. A spokeswoman said around 22 firefighters were involved in fighting the blaze at the derelict Stoneywood Mill Sports Centre, in the city's Stoneywood Road.

Elsewhere, a nine-year-old boy was taken to hospital after he fell into a bonfire in Blackridge, West Lothian.

Lothian and Borders Police said he had "superficial" injuries to his right hand and lower right leg.