Minister tells of father's death in chip pan blaze as fire toll rises

GOVERNMENT minister Fergus Ewing has spoken out over the recent spate of fire deaths, telling how his own father died in a chip plan blaze eight years ago.

The number of fire deaths in the Strathclyde region in the past six weeks rose to seven as the fire service announced another fatal blaze in the early hours of yesterday morning.

During a visit to the fire service's North Glasgow Area HQ in Cowcaddens Mr Ewing, minister for community safety, said that the death of his father eight years ago from smoke inhalation following a chip pan fire had given him personal experience of the deadly nature of house fires. He said: "The fire service could not have acted more swiftly. They were there as quickly as it was possible to arrive, and that is something my mother and I shall never forget.

"That personal experience brought home to me at the time what was involved, the difficulties you face, the personal human difficulties of dealing with people who have just lost loved ones, who are in crisis, who are in a high state of emotion, and who you have to deal with at that difficult time along with colleagues in other services."

Stewart Ewing, who was married to Winnie Ewing, the former Scottish National Party MSP, died after a fire in January 2003 at the couple's house in Goodwill, Miltonduff, near Elgin.

The latest fatal fire ripped through a property in Bute Avenue, Port Glasgow, just after 3am yesterday.

A man in his 40s died in the blaze, which is the subject of an investigation by the police and fire services.

It followed a fire at the White Star bus depot in East Renfrewshire on Sunday night, which caused 500,000 of damage. It is thought to have been the result of "wilful fire raising" and police are appealing for witnesses.

Strathclyde Fire and Rescue Service's Chief Officer, Brian Sweeney, said that it brought the region's recent disturbing fire statistics "fully into focus".

He added that it was believed alcohol had played a part in the Port Glasgow incident.

"While those causes and contributory factors are still under investigation for that incident, early indications appear to suggest that alcohol may have been a contributory factor," he said.

"That brings our statistics fully into focus since the beginning of December. In that six-week period, we've now had seven fatal fires in Strathclyde, two people remain critical and 68 who are casualties or victims of those incidents." He added that there had been a total of 336 house fires over the period.

Last week, Mr Sweeney hit out at Scotland's alcohol culture, stating that the spate of house fires led to an "unprecedented level of tragedy and misery" over the festive period.

Yesterday he said: "Scotland's relationship with alcohol needs to be redefined."

Addressing possible reform of the fire service in Scotland, Mr Ewing said that the "frontline service" would be retained.

"Uppermost in our consideration will be to maintain the frontline service that the public expects from the fire and police service. That will be the priority, as we go ahead."