Firecrewsface gasdanger

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service in Perth and Kinross attended 539 incidents in the last three months.

In a report published last week the SFRS drew attention to fires in Auchterarder and Dunkeld, both involving dangerous gas canisters and hours of evacuation.

Firefighters from Auchterarder, Crieff and Perth were called to a significant fire in Auchterarder Main Street at 3am on September 23, which involved acetylene and oxygen cylinders contained within a domestic garage.

“The garage was completely destroyed by the fire which had the added risk from the cylinders.” the report said.

“This resulted in the evacuation of eight houses deemed to be within risk area of the fire as well as firefighting in a defensive way until such times as the cylinders were declared to be safe from the risk of explosion.

“At its height 25 firefighting personnel were on scene along with four fire appliances.”

There were no casualties at this incident and SFRS let the scene some six hours later.

Only three days later the alarm went in Birnam when diesel caught fire in a commercial garage.

“On arrival the inside of the garage was fully involved in fire with a number of vehicles and other equipment within the building,” local area manager Gordon Pryde told councillors.

“This incident involved acetylene and oxygen cylinders contained inside the garage, which resulted in a defensive firefighting approach.

“Twenty-three properties within the risk area required to be evacuated by Police Scotland during the incident.”

Twenty-five firefighting personnel were on the scene, along with four fire appliances.

Only minor injuries were reported from one casualty.

The incident was concluded safely almost six hours later.