DEATH BLAZE
Tragedy as man dies at the scene after fire rips through house
A 44-year-old man has died following a terrifying blaze at a Blantyre home.
Emergency services, including three fire crews and an ambulance, raced to the scene of the inferno at Iona Path in the town just before 6pm on Saturday night.
Firefighters recovered one person within the ground floor of the property.
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The authorities have not released his identity.
Area Commander Jim Quinn is the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) local senior officer for Lanarkshire.
He told the Advertiser: “We were alerted at 5.47pm on Saturday to reports of a dwelling fire on Iona Path, Blantyre.
“We mobilised three fire appliances to the scene, where crews extinguished a fire affecting the ground floor of the property. Firefighters located and removed one male from inside the property who was treated by our crews and the Scottish Ambulance Service.
“However, he was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.
“Our thoughts are with his family and the wider community at this time and a joint fire investigation alongside our Police Scotland colleagues is now underway.”
A police source added: “We received a report of a fire at a property on Iona Path, Blantyre, around 6.45pm on Saturday (February 18).
“Emergency services attended, and a 44-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene.
“The blaze was extinguished by the SFRS. A joint investigation into the circumstances is ongoing.”
Anyone with any information is asked to contact police on 101.
Information can also be left anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.