OAP AND DAUGHTER PULLED TO SAFET Y AT FLATS
Rescued pair trapped by the blaze
A pensioner and his daughter were treated for smoke inhalation after they became trapped in a fire at a Rutherglen sheltered housing complex.
Firefighters hauled the pair from the blaze at Eastcroft Sheltered Housing shortly before 1pm on Thursday.
The blaze ignited in the hallway of the flat, blocking the pair’s escape route.
Two fire appliances and an aerial appliance rushed to the first floor flat on Main Street after the complex’s on-site housing officer raised the alarm.
The man and his daughter were taken to hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation.
A spokesman for Scottish Fire and Rescue said crews brought the blaze quickly under control and so the complex was not evacuated.
Daniel Lowe, executive director of housing and technical resources at South Lanarkshire Council, which operates the sheltered housing complex, said the 24 flats at the site are fitted with hardwire smoke detectors.
He said that the smoke alarm activated successfully when the fire ignited.
A pensioner and his daughter were taken to hospital after being trapped in a flat in a Rutherglen sheltered housing complex after fire broke out.
Eastcroft’s on-site sheltered housing officer alerted Scottish Fire and Rescue shortly before 1pm on Thursday after a smoke detector in the flat went off.
The blaze ignited in the hallway, blocking the pair’s escape route from the flat.
The man and his daughter were trapped in the property until fire fighters arrived.
They suffered the effects of smoke inhalation and were taken to hospital.
Two fire appliances and an aerial appliance rushed to Eastcroft sheltered housing complex on Rutherglen’s Main Street after reports of a fire in a first floor flat.
A spokesperson for Scottish Fire and Rescue said crews brought the blaze quickly under control. The block was not evacuated. The Eastcroft sheltered housing development, which is managed by South Lanarkshire Council, provides independent living, with support, for elderly residents and comprises 24 flats.
Executive director of housing and technical resources, Daniel Lowe, confirmed the council has hardwire smoke detectors fitted in the tenant’s home and no sprinkler systems are installed in individual properties.
“Scottish Fire and Rescue Service responded quickly and rescued the elderly tenant and his daughter. Thankfully, no one was injured, but we understand both were taken to hospital as a precautionary measure due to smoke inhalation,” explained Mr Lowe.
“While the fire didn’t affect any other resident or any other part of the complex, our sheltered housing officer has been on site providing assurance to the other residents.”
In the event that a smoke detector is activated during office hours, explained Mr Lowe, the sheltered housing officer receives notification.
Outwith office hours, the system is monitored by South Lanarkshire Council’s 24-hour contact centre.
Mr Lowe continued: “Smoke detectors in sheltered properties are inspected on an annual basis and the equipment for the tenant to communicate with the sheltered housing officer and the contact centre are checked on a three-monthly basis.
“Any faults detected within the system are electronically notified to the 24-hour contact centre to allow the fault to be repaired.
“In this instance, as the location of the fire was in the hallway, this prevented the tenant and his daughter from being able to easily exit, therefore, they had to remain in the property until the fire service arrived.”