Man dies in Barra house fire

A 51-YEAR- OLD man died following a house fire on the Isle of Barra in the Outer Hebrides last Friday (March 17).

The man is yet to be formally identified but his next of kin have been informed. No- one else was injured in the incident.

Police and fire crews were called to the serious blaze at a single storey house at St Barr’s Crescent, Barra, at 6.19am.

Firefighters wearing protective breathing apparatus entered the building and got the man out.

He was passed into the care of the Scottish Ambulance Service but died a short time later.

Firefighters used powerful water jets and finally extinguished the flames at around 7.15am. They left the scene around 9.30am.

Local senior fire officer Fraser Burr said: ‘The thoughts of everyone at the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service are with the family at this difficult time.

‘Barra has a very close-knit community and this tragic loss will be felt by everyone on the island.’

Inspector Roddy Mackay added: ‘A joint investigation with the fire service will be carried out and inquiries are at a very early stage.’