17 rescued from flats after fire in Glasgow's Partick area

Firefighters have rescued 17 people from a six-storey block of flats after a serious fire left them trapped in the building.

17 people were rescued from a fire in a block of flats in Glasgow's Partick area. Picture: John Devlin

The “well-developed” blaze at a building in Stewartville Street, in the Partick area of Glasgow, triggered a major response from the emergency services in the early hours of Sunday.

Officials confirmed there were no fatalities in the blaze, and that no-one had to go to hospital, although a number of people were treated at the scene for smoke inhalation.

Fire, police and ambulance crews were called to the blaze, which broke out in a communal area of the block, at around 12.15am.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) said: “On arrival crews found a well-developed fire on the third floor of a six-storey residential block of flats with residents unable to leave the building.

“Crews wearing breathing apparatus immediately began fighting the fire using main jets and a high reach appliance and began an extensive search of all floors.”

A “significant amount” of breathing equipment and firefighting resources was needed to deal with the serious incident, firefighters said.

Additional fire engines from Milngavie, Govan, Springburn, Calton and Motherwell were called to give back-up to the crews who initially attended from Yorkhill, Maryhill and Cowcaddens.

An SFRS spokesman said: “Firefighters quickly brought the fire under control, whilst at the same time rescuing 17 people from the property, some of whom were suffering from slight smoke inhalation and minor injuries.

“All were treated at the scene by the Scottish Ambulance Service and did not require hospital treatment.”

Crews worked through the night to deal with any fire spread and make the scene safe.

Police Scotland said about 25 to 30 people were evacuated from the flats during the incident.

Four people were treated for smoke inhalation and other minor injury or medical conditions, a force spokeswoman said.

The Scottish Ambulance Service sent four resources from their special operations response team, two A&E ambulances and an ambulance car.

But a spokesman confirmed: “We did not transport anyone to hospital. We dealt with smoke inhalation.”

Their role in the operation was stood down in the early hours.

A joint investigation involving the police and fire service is now under way.

DOWNLOAD THE SCOTSMAN APP ON ITUNES OR GOOGLE PLAY