Fire chiefs renew safety warnings after four deaths in space of a week

FIRE chiefs have issued a renewed safety warning after the fourth fire-related death in the Strathclyde area in less than a week.

A 45-year-old man, named locally as James Kearney, was found dead by firefighters who attended a blaze in Boghead Avenue, Dumbarton, yesterday.

It is the third fire fatality in Strathclyde in 72 hours and the fourth since last Tuesday.

Firefighters were called to the ground-floor flat at around 1.35am on Monday after neighbours made a "valiant attempt" to enter the flat but were stopped by severe heat and smoke.

It is believed he stayed at the property with his teenage son who was not present at the time of the fire.

Four firefighters wearing breathing apparatus found the man's body inside the flat, after they put out the fire at the property using high-pressure water jets.

Strathclyde Fire and Rescue Service said that the man had "succumbed to the effects" of the blaze.

A spokesman for the fire service said: "Neighbours from the four in a block type property made a valiant attempt to enter the ground floor flat via the main entrance door but were prohibited by severe heat and smoke."

Just 24 hours earlier, at 1am on Sunday, a man was rescued and taken to Monklands Hospital but was declared dead. Firefighters attended the blaze on Muiryhall Street, Coatbridge, just after 1am.

At 5pm on Saturday, 53-year-old Elizabeth Russell was found dead inside a flat in McLaurin Crescent, Johnstone, Renfrewshire, despite rescue efforts of neighbours.

Her 52-year-old husband, Robert, was also inside and was taken to Paisley's Royal Alexandra Hospital suffering from slight smoke inhalation.

Four firefighters managed to put out the blaze within 20 minutes after being called to the scene when neighbours heard a smoke alarm.

And on December 28, 75-year-old Thomas Oliver died after a blaze in Bangorshill Street in Thornliebank, East Renfrewshire. Emergency services were at the scene at 10am after neighbours said they heard a smoke alarm going off in the flat.

A full report into the deaths will be prepared for the procurator fiscal.

Fire chiefs renewed advice for safe homes during the festive period when the use of candles and greater consumption of alcohol can make fires even more likely. Strathclyde Fire and Rescue community safety director Lewis Ramsay said: "There have been 68 fires involving casualties in Strathclyde since the start of December. Most of these fires have been in flats or houses.

"We would remind people to be extremely careful over what remains of the festive holiday and beyond.The use of candles and tea lights in the house and greater consumption of alcohol increase the risk of fire.

"We provide advice and guidance about how to reduce the risk of fire in the home and what to do if one takes place - we even provide free smoke detectors."

In other incidents, firefighters from Dumbarton Community Fire Station put out a house fire in the town on Sunday afternoon, rescuing an elderly man who needed treatment for minor burns.

At 5pm on Sunday, crews attended a house fire in Skelmorlie, Ayrshire. One woman was treated for the effects of mild smoke inhalation.