Perth flats blaze treated as suspicious

By Frank Urquhart
Published on Friday 10 February 2012 14:38

A BLAZE in which 21 people were rescued after being trapped in a block of flats in Perth may have been started deliberately.

Fire fighters from three units from Tayside Fire and Rescue Service, some wearing breathing apparatus, led the trapped residents to safety last night following the blaze at Cairn Place in the Tulloch area of the town. No one was injured in the fire but one woman was treated at the scene for the effects of smoke inhalation.

The blaze was later traced to a baby’s pram which had been left in the common stairwell.

A spokesman for the fire service said: “Thankfully, no one was seriously injured at this incident. A total of 16 fire-fighters were in attendance to deal with the fire and subsequent rescues and it was through the quick actions of fire-fighters and the support from partner agencies that this incident was brought to a safe conclusion.

“The fire was caused by the ignition of a pram and blankets left within the common close and it is being treated as suspicious. Tayside Police scenes of crime officers and Tayside Fire and Rescue Fire investigation officers are carrying out an ongoing investigation into the fire.”