Police probe into suspicious blaze

POLICE are investigating a suspicious blaze at a block of flats which forced residents to flee their homes.

Three fire engines rushed to the properties at Fraser Place, Arbroath, after residents reported hearing several loud bangs from the close.

People on the lower floors helped one another to escape from the building while others stayed put as firefighters tackled the blaze, which coated the walls of the stairwell with soot.

The scorched remains of two prams were still in the close today.

Those living at the block spoke of the “frightening” moments when smoke began pouring from the building.

Lianne Thow, 30, said she was told by a police officer that the fire may have been started deliberately – and said she saw someone filming the blaze.

She said: “I got a phone call and looked out the window and saw all the fire engines and heard the sirens.

“I went out to make sure everyone else was OK and that they stayed inside while it was dealt with.

“We weren’t allowed to leave for a while because of the smoke.

“The police said someone had started the fire — they’re coming back to speak to me later because I saw someone on the roof of the sheds across the way filming it all on his phone.”

Another resident said she heard two loud bangs as she was out hanging up her washing.

She said: “I just heard this bang – then another bang, and I saw smoke coming out the closie.

“I ran in and told my husband and he went to help people get out of their houses. It was frightening.

“You don’t know whether someone started it on purpose, but you worry about if someone might come back and do it again if they did.”

A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: “We received a call at 2.05pm yesterday from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service regarding a fire in Fraser Place.

“There is an ongoing investigation into the fire, which damaged a common close. Further inquiries are ongoing.”

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service confirmed it had sent three appliances to the scene.

A spokeswoman added: “Fire officers used one hose reel jet to extinguish the blaze. Police were called as is the case with all fires in properties.”

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The block of flats.