Man, 87, dies day after blaze at his home

AN ELDERLY man has died after a fire at his home in Dundee.

The 87-year-old suffered from smoke inhalation after his house, on Kinghorne Road, caught alight on Saturday afternoon.

He was treated at the scene by paramedics, but died in hospital yesterday.

"Despite the best efforts of medical staff, the gentleman passed away on Sunday within Ninewells Hospital," said a spokesman for Tayside Police.

"Early indications are that the fire is not suspicious, but as is normal in these circumstances a joint investigation between Tayside Fire & Rescue and Tayside Police is ongoing, and a report will be submitted to the procurator-fiscal."

In the west of Scotland, there has been a recent spate of fatal fires.

Seven people have died in blazes at properties in the Strathclyde Police region over the past two months.

Government minister Fergus Ewing recently visited the fire service's North Glasgow Area HQ in Cowcaddens, where he spoke about the death of the father, Stewart Ewing, who died after a chip-pan fire in January 2003 at his home in Goodwill, Miltonduff, near Elgin.

Brian Sweeney, chief officer of Strathclyde Fire and Rescue, recently hit out at Scotland's alcohol culture as being responsible for a number of the deaths in his area.