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Pensioner dies in Arbroath house blaze

Mrs Martins home.
Mrs Martins home.

A frail 81-year-old Angus woman died in a house fire at the weekend despite a dramatic rescue attempt from police.

Arbroath pensioner Isabella Martin perished in a blaze at her home in Warddykes Avenue after a fire broke out around 8.15pm on Saturday.

James Buchanan, 65, who lives just two doors along, praised the “heroic” actions of a police officer who kicked down the door and crawled along a corridor filled with thick black smoke in an effort to get to the elderly victim.

He said: “That policeman deserves a medal for what he did. He was a very brave young man to go in there and risk his own life.

“He crawled right down the corridor to the living-room but he couldn’t get any further so had to turn back. He put his life on the line.”

It was Mr Buchanan who raised the alarm after hearing his neighbour’s smoke alarm activating as he said goodbye to his cousin.

“I went to the door but it was locked and I couldn’t get her to rouse. I could smell the smoke; I have still got the taste in my mouth yet. It was thick black putrid smoke,” he said.

Fire crews from Arbroath, Montrose and Carnoustie attended the scene and wore breathing apparatus while they entered and searched the property.

Firefighters located Mrs Martin, however she had already succumbed to the effects of the fire.

A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: “The fire was contained within one room of the house and was extinguished by two firefighters using one hose reel jet.

“Our sympathies go to the family and friends of the deceased and the wider community of Arbroath.”

Residents in the street, which is adjacent to Warddykes Primary School, said that Mrs Martin did not usually leave the house and she was not capable of walking any distance.

Neighbour Mary Rea, 75, said she had not been aware of the fire until her own grandson ran over to make sure she was safe.

She explained: “There were lots of police cars and fire engines in the street and my grandson said he heard the alarm going off.

“I think the lady had a walking frame but we didn’t know much about her at all,” she said.

A joint investigation between the fire service and Police Scotland got under way around 11am on Sunday with forensics officers visiting the scene and carrying out their work.

Inspector Graham Young paid tribute to the actions of the officer who attempted the rescue.

He said: “We would always caution people to be aware of their own safety when trying to assist in incidents such as these.

“As police officers we take a decision that we will be here to help the public and the officer involved has taken this to the ninth degree with his brave actions, although unfortunately the rescue attempt proved unsuccessful due to the conditions.”