Three women are killed in separate house fires

Published on 02/03/2013 02:52

Three women have died in ­separate house fires over the space of a week.

Strathclyde Fire and Rescue said the fatalities are a tragic reminder of the danger fires pose.

On Thursday, 21 February, a 69-year-old woman died after a blaze at a property in Barmulloch, near Glasgow. She was given oxygen by firefighters at the scene and taken to the city’s Royal Infirmary suffering from burns, but she died on Tuesday.

An elderly woman was found dead when crews were called to a well-developed fire in Easterhouse, Glasgow, on Tuesday.

On the same day, an 84-year-old woman was taken to the city’s Western Infirmary after a fire in Bearsden, East Dunbartonshire. She died two days later.

Assistant chief officer Lewis Ramsay, director of community safety at Strathclyde Fire and Rescue, said: “This is a tragic time for the families and the thoughts of everyone in the fire and rescue service are with them as they try to come to terms with what has happened.

“Fire can take hold extremely quickly with devastating consequences. Every firefighter has the sad knowledge of lives lost and families torn apart by fire. We can never forget the danger exists and must continue working together to prevent tragedy.

“Firefighters simply have no better ally in the fight against fire than communities themselves. Our communities need active citizens who take responsibility not only for their own safety but also that of others.

“It is vital every home is protected by working smoke alarms on every level of the property.”