High-rise residents stress worries over ‘stay put’ advice

Perth’s high-rise tenants have reacted with horror to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s insistence that “stay put” remains the best advice in the wake of a fire.

During a meeting at the Mercure Hotel, angry elderly residents suggested the recommendation was as good as “stay and burn”, an accusation denied by fire chiefs.

The event had been organised by the fire service and Perth and Kinross Council in an effort to allay fears.

Residents of Market, Milne and Lickley Courts, Pomarium Street and Potterhill flats were all invited.

Scottish Fire and Rescue’s Richard Stroud told those gathered: “The best advice the fire service can offer is still to stay in your flat, close all the doors and call us. We will be there in minutes.”

He warned about “making assumptions” about what had taken place at Grenfell Tower but said there appeared to have been factors there that made the blaze unusual.

“No one is hiding the fact that the fire at Grenfell Tower went up the outside of the building,” he said.

“When you look at the images and how it spread you can see that it was in a compartment (a single flat) and it then left that compartment and went outside and then up the exterior of the building.

“However, the advice is still to remain in your flat. You will have 30 minutes’ external fire protection.

“We carry out quarterly and annual tests at each of the blocks in Perth to ensure we can gain easy access and make sure we can get to every level.”

One elderly resident challenged him, saying: “You are suggesting that we just stay in our homes and burn.”

Mr Stroud replied: “That is not at all what I am saying.”