Perth’s high rise tenants have reacted with horror to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s insistence that “stay put” remains the best advice in the wake of a fire.
Angry elderly residents suggested the recommendation was as good as “stay and burn” during a heated meeting arranged in the wake of London’s Grenfell Tower tragedy.
It had been organised by the fire service and Perth and Kinross Council in an effort to allay fears and allow local people to raise concerns.
Within minutes, however, officials and senior firefighters were facing tough questions – and being harangued by some residents clearly concerned for the safety of their families.
A number of those present at the drop-in session were upper floor residents of Milne Court, in Perth City Centre, which rises to eight stories.
Scottish Fire and Rescue’s Richard Stroud told those gathered: “The best advice the fire service can offer is still to stay in your flat, close all the doors and call us.
“We will be there in minutes.”
He warned about “making assumptions” about what had taken place at Grenfell Tower, but said there appeared to have been factors there that made the blaze unusual.
“No-one is hiding the fact that the fire at Grenfell Tower went up the outside of the building,” he said.
“When you look at the images and how it spread you can see that it was in a compartment (a single flat) and it then left that compartment and went outside and then up the exterior of the building.
“However, the advice is till to remain in your flat. You will have 30 minute external fire protection.
“Our aerial appliances will reach the eighth floor and our aerial ladder in Dundee will go even higher.
“We carry out quarterly and annual tests at each of the blocks in Perth to ensure we can gain easy access and make sure we can get to every level.”
One elderly resident challenged him, saying: “You are suggesting that we just stay in our homes and burn.”
Mr Stroud replied: “That is not at all what I am saying.”
The meeting took place as the SFRS revealed it fought hundreds of needless fires across the country during 2016.
Many were deliberately started and involved homes, derelict buildings and refuse, with 532 deliberate primary fires at dwellings and buildings between June 27 and August 29 alone.
Residents of Market, Milne, Lickley Court, Pomarium Street and Potterhill flats were all invited to attend the meeting at the Mercure Hotel.
Among other concerns were refuse and dumped items clogging up stairwells and landings, creating a fire hazard and preventing easy evacuation.
Participants also raised the question of whether smoke detectors could be introduced into public areas of flats within Perth.
Firefighters and council officials agreed it was not standard practice due to the problem of false alarms.
Fire prevention officer Sarah Robertson did, however, say that they could be introduced by SFRS where residents feel they are necessary.
