The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Body of woman, 82, discovered in burnt-out house
An elderly woman has been found dead in the burnt out shell of a house in Dundee. Police said the body of an 82-year-old woman was discovered inside the property in Lochee after a blaze tore through it early yesterday morning.
The alarm was raised around 3.30am, by which time the house on Stewart Street, just off Coupar Angus Road, was well alight.
Witnesses said a ferocious fire could be seen coming from inside the front of the home, which then spread to the rear.
Residents in the nearby multi- store ys said the building was quickly engulfed.
Last night a Police Scotland spokesman said: “Emergency services attended and the body of an 82-year-old woman was found within.
“Inquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances and a report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal in due course.”
The property is the western half of what is believed to be two semidetached homes.
Residents in 11 flats of the neighbouring Yeaman’s Alley block were evacuated by police while firefighters tried to control the blaze.
There were concerns a chimney at the gable end of the property, which is just yards from the flats, could topple over.
Residents were not allowed to return until around seven hours later when the chimney was deemed stable and the fire mostly extinguished.
One man, who lives at Yeaman’s Alley, said he returned home just before 1pm having stayed up all night. He said: “The police buzzed all the flats and came in to tell us we needed to leave.
“I have seen the elderly woman who lives there but I don’t know her.
“The property looks totally gutted. My best wishes are with the family.”
The property is located next to busy Coupar Angus Road and 100m from the rear of Lidl supermarket.
The smell of smoke hung in the air yesterday and both floors of the property appeared to be extensively damaged. Windows were missing and brickwork around them had started to come away.
Firefighters continued to work on the embers, hosing water directly into two large holes next to the chimneys. Inspectors from Scottish & Southern Electricity (SSE) were also seen entering the property, as were gas inspectors.
Coupar Angus Road was closed in both directions initially but reopened later.