Neighbour says man’s fire death ‘hard to take in’

Investigators trying to piece together how fatal blaze came about

Investigators spent the weekend combing the fire-ravaged interior of a Brechin flat following a ferocious blaze which claimed the life of a local man.

The victim was dragged from the burning ground-floor flat by firefighters on Friday afternoon, but despite the efforts of emergency services at the scene, he died later in hospital.

He was named locally as Ian Stewart, known as Graham.

One shocked River Street neighbour spoke of the desperate efforts to revive the man and the warning locals were given to stay back from the building amid concerns of an explosion.

The fire broke out shortly after 4pm and he was given CPR outside his home as part of the bid to save him.

The area around the flat remained cordoned off as white-suited forensic experts carried out a examination of the property.

Next door neighbour Katie Coutts, 20, said: “I was coming back home with my dog and saw loads of smoke.

“I thought it was my house so I just came running down the hill. I put the dog in the house thinking it would all be over quite quickly, but I didn’t realise the severity of it.”

She said she knew Mr Stewart as “Grimmy”.

“He was here before I came here a couple of years ago and he was always nice to me,” added Miss Coutts. “I was just speaking to him this week.

“They were doing CPR on him and then put up a blue cover and told everyone to get back because the police were worried there was going to be an explosion. It’s a bit hard to take in that he has died.” detailed

Investigators at the scene of the fire on River Street.