Mum of two, Pauline Mcphail, has been named locally as the victim of a fatal house fire in Forfar.
An investigation is now under way following the death of the 28-year-old in the fire at her home in the town’s South Street on Saturday afternoon.
She previously went by the name Pauline Sarah Brown.
She moved to Forfar in January of this year.
One of the best people
One of her best friends, Kathrien Macarthur described Pauline as “one of the best people she knew.”
Speaking on social media Kathrien said: “I am in shock. Over the years we have been not just friends but family all crumbled in one.
“We had so many good and bad times but it all came down to family. You are one of the best people I knew.”
Kathrien added: “You were great in your own way and always cheerful and bubbly and even when things were getting tough you pulled through and always found a new path.”
She continued: “You’re truly going to be missed and never going to be the same again. Our hearts are completely broken.”
Emergency services were called to the blaze in a flat in the town’s South Street around 3pm.
Sadly Pauline’s body was recovered from the scene. Her next of kin have been informed.
Body recovered
A spokesman for Police Scotland said: “Around 3.05pm on Saturday, October 2, police were called to a report of a fire at a property in South Street in Forfar.
“The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) attended and extinguished the fire but sadly the body of a 28-year-old woman was recovered from the property.
“Her next of kin have been made aware.”
Joint investigation
The spokesman added: “A joint investigation into the fire is ongoing with the SFRS and a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal in due course.”
Three fire appliances, two from Forfar and one from Kirriemuir attended the blaze.
Commenting on social media Pamela Balfour said: “So heartbreaking such a young beautiful girl her poor baby losing her mum my heart goes out to family R.I.P taken too soon.”
Jenny Anderson said: “Devastated to hear this news today such a beautiful soul with a huge heart thoughts are with your family and friends at this sad time.”
‘Desperately sad time for the family’
One local resident said: “This is an absolute tragedy. I saw all the emergency services at the scene on Saturday.
“This is devastating news for this young woman’s family. My thoughts are with them at what will be a desperately sad time for them.”
One neighbour said: “I saw three ambulances and a lot of police cars.
“I didn’t want to stand and watch, I thought it was a bit nosey, but they were there a long time.
“I think it was a fire but like I said they were there an awful long time.
Neighbours saw smoke
“I couldn’t smell a fire but it must have been something pretty serious.
“The ambulances were there for a long time and they don’t wait around for nothing.”
Another added: “It was just before 3pm, we saw all the fire engines and had a nosey down there.
“They were putting it out and we saw the ambulance.
“I couldn’t see the fire from the window, just saw smoke.”
After the fire, police officers were stationed outside the tenement block.
Forensics teams were also seen inside the building and an SSPCA van was parked outside.
Emergency services called to Forfar street after fire in block of flats