Three individuals and a canine have died in a lodge blaze in Perth with 999 crews racing to the scene after the fireplace broke out, Police Scotland have confirmed.
Emergency providers had been known as to a report of a hearth on the New County Lodge, County Place, shortly earlier than 5.10am at present.
Three individuals had been confirmed useless on the scene whereas plenty of others had been handled for minor accidents by the Scottish Ambulance Service.
Lodge visitors and two individuals from a neighbouring block of flats had been evacuated and are being supported.
Emergency providers on the scene after a hearth on the New County Lodge in Perth
Roads are being blocked off by emergency providers who rushed to the scene this morning
Deputy First Minister John Swinney described the fatalities as ‘heartbreaking information’.
Mr Swinney, the MSP for Perthshire North, tweeted: ‘My sympathies with all affected by this tragedy.’
Douglas Ross, Chief of the Scottish Conservatives and MP for Moray and MSP for the Highlands and Islands tweeted: ‘Completely terrible to listen to of the fireplace in a Perth lodge which has claimed the lives of three individuals. What a tragic begin to 2023.
‘My ideas exit to the family members of those that have died.
‘As at all times, due to our emergency providers for his or her swift response in tragic circumstances.’
Smoke and hearth harm to home windows on the scene of a deadly hearth on the New County Lodge in Perth
Lodge visitors and two individuals from a neighbouring block of flats had been evacuated and are being supported
Highway closures are in place within the space whereas emergency providers cope with the incident
The Scottish Hearth and Rescue Service (SFRS) mentioned it had despatched 9 home equipment to the scene
Native MP Pete Wishart mentioned the fireplace was ‘merely terrible information firstly of the 12 months when so many individuals are out celebrating’.
Mr Wishart, who represents Perth and North Perthshire, added: ‘My ideas are firmly with the households and associates of the victims.
‘When the information broke, all of us hoped that everybody would make it out and can be accounted for. That is the very last thing that anyone anticipated.
‘I do know the individuals of Perth will probably be devastated by this information and want to prolong their deepest sympathies to these affected by this tragedy.
‘Can I additionally thank the emergency providers who attended the scene in such numbers.’
Their feedback got here as Chief Superintendent Phil Davison mentioned: ‘Our ideas are very a lot with the households and family members of those that have died at what’s a really troublesome time for everybody.
‘Our enquiries are ongoing to ascertain the total circumstances of what has occurred and officers are conducting a joint investigation with the Scottish Hearth and Rescue Service.’
A police cordon is in place and members of the general public are being requested to keep away from the world.
The Scottish Hearth and Rescue Service (SFRS) mentioned it had despatched 9 home equipment to the scene after the alarm was raised at 5.02am.
A spokesperson for the SFRS mentioned: ‘We’re at present in attendance alongside emergency service companions at a business constructing hearth at County Place in Perth.’
In the meantime, a Scottish Ambulance Service spokesperson mentioned: ‘We acquired a name from Scottish Hearth and Rescue Service of a fireplace on the New County Lodge in Perth at 05:05hrs.
‘We responded with 21 sources together with our particular operation useful resource workforce, with our first useful resource on scene at 05:12hrs.’
Extra to comply with.