Fire brings dramatic start to Perth residents’ New Year
ByNews reporter
A passing New Year reveller alerted the residents of a Perth block of flats to a blaze in the stairwell.
The mystery man spotted smoke billowing from 6 Viewfield Place at 6.40am on New Year’s Day and started banging on doors and shouting a warning.
”It was just as well I probably wouldn’t have noticed,” said Vicky Gemmell, who flat is nearest to the fire in a communal area.
She had come home at 3am after celebrating Hogmanay and, awoken by the noise, she ran past the fire and out of the flats.
Shocked but unharmed by the close call, Ms Gemmell received oxygen from the emergency services.
Firefighters using breathing apparatus and a hose reel quickly extinguished the fire which was contained to a communal area on the third floor of the flats where cardboard and other waste is stored.
The flats, which are off Crieff Road, not far from Dunkeld Road, were undamaged by the fire though residents said it would take some time for the smell of smoke to clear.
Residents were unable to thank the person who alerted them as he slipped away during the commotion.
”We are very grateful to him,” said one.
Fire brings dramatic start to Perth residents’ New Year