Police probe after man dies in blaze Arrest after ‘deliberate’ fire at flats
The flat where the fire took place Police believe a blaze that killed one man in Perth on Sunday night may have been started deliberately.
A man, named locally as Thomas McLeish, was pulled from a flat at St Catherine’s Square after the fire at a separate property.
Paramedics battled to save Thomas, known as ‘Tucker’, but he died at the scene.
A 36-year-old man has been arrested and inquiries are continuing.
Residents nearby saw smoke and flames coming from both the front and back of the city apartments just before 10pm.
Fire crews quickly contained the blaze on the first floor.
Residents were evacuated and gathered outside. They were allowed to return inside shortly before midnight.
Detective Inspector Gavin McKinlay has urged anyone with information to come forward.
He said: “A joint investigation with Scottish Fire and Rescue Service is currently ongoing, but I can however confirm that the fire is being treated as suspicious.
“I would like to appeal to anyone in the area of St Catherine’s Square in Perth just before 10pm yesterday evening and saw anyone acting suspiciously to get in touch.
A spokeswoman from the
Cops stand guard at St Catherine’s on Monday morning Scottish Fire and Rescue Service side. It was mental, you could see said: “There will be a joint the flames out the window. I was investigation with Police Scotland screaming. I never seen anything into the cause of the fire.” like this in my life. My mother lives
The Sunday night blaze was just opposite. alarming for people who live in “They were working on him for and around St Catherine’s Square. 30 or 40 minutes. I seen that, it
Many saw flames and smoke was sad. I think he died of smoke from the birds eye view of nearby inhalation. It wasn’t his house that tower blocks. had the fire.
One woman told the PA: “I was “They were trying and trying at my partner’s in Lickley Court. with him. Then it was all quiet. We heard the fire brigade. I said to There was silence.” him, ‘it’s awful near to here.’ And Alan Robertson from Milne I looked out the window and the Street added: “First I saw fire firemen were at the flats. engines. When I came out all of
“There was smoke coming out this was all smoke. Then when I both ends.” saw two ambulances appearing,
Romina Burns, a resident at the I thought, that’s not a good sign. Milne Court tower block told the Later on, I found out somebody PA: “I saw flames coming out this never made it.”