Three people were killed in a hotel fire in Perth, Scotland | UK News

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Three people have died after a hotel fire broke out in Perth, Scotland.

Fire emergency crews were called to the New County Hotel shortly after 5 a.m. Monday.

Police Scotland said three people were confirmed dead at the scene and a dog also died in the fire.

Officers say a further 11 people were treated at the scene for minor injuries by the Scottish Ambulance Service.

Police said hotel guests and two people from an adjacent apartment building were being evacuated and receiving support.

Chief Superintendent Phil Davison said: “Our thoughts are with the families and loved ones of those who died at a very difficult time for everyone.

“Our investigations are ongoing to establish the full circumstances of what happened and officers are carrying out a joint investigation with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.”

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) said it had dispatched nine vehicles and 60 firefighters to the scene.

Jason Sharp, the chief local officer for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service in Perth, Kinross, Angus and Dundee, said the fire was a “very complex incident” and crews had worked “very hard” to respond to the blaze.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Scottish Ambulance Service said: “We received a call from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service at 05.05 am today (2nd January) to attend to a fire at the New County Hotel, Perth.

Photo: Pic: Google Street View

“We deployed 21 resources, including our Special Operations team, and received 14 casualties.

Eleven patients did not require hospitalization, but unfortunately three patients died at the scene.

“Our thoughts remain with those affected by this incident.”

There is a police cordon and the public are asked to avoid the area.

“lucky to get out alive”

A guest at the hotel told Sky News she felt “lucky to get out alive” after surviving the fire.

The woman, who gave her name as Barbara, said she and her husband were staying in a room directly above where the fire started.

She said: “We woke up to the alarms and just ran, leaving everything we had in the room.

Photo: The fire started around 5 am. Pic: Eileen Blair

“When we got to the front door you could see burning embers falling on the floor. We ran through it as fast as we could, hoping nothing would fall on us.

“We didn’t realize how close we were to where the fire started, we are really lucky we got out alive.

“Once we got out into the street you could see how bad it really was, we stood there and watched people being carried out on stretchers and being treated by the emergency services, the people on the second floor were in really bad shape.

Barbara recently returned to the UK with her husband after living abroad and checked into the New County Hotel on December 16th while they were looking for a permanent home in the area.

She added, “It’s sad. It was a really painful day for us.”

“heartbreaking news”

Another witness who saw the fire told Sky News: “I live across the road. I heard an alarm, the glass shattered and then the siren, so I ran outside to see what was happening.”

He described the incident as “horrific”.

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2:12 Three die in a hotel fire in Scotland

Politicians across Scotland today shared their sympathies with the families of the victims.

Scotland’s Deputy First Minister John Sweeney tweeted: “Traging news out of Perth this morning. My sympathies go out to all those affected by this tragedy.”

Scottish Conservative Party leader Douglas Ross said: “Absolutely appalling to hear of the fire in the Perth hotel which has claimed the lives of three people.

“What a tragic start to 2023. My thoughts go out to the loved ones who have passed away.

“As always, thanks to our emergency services for their quick response in the tragic circumstances.”

A disastrous start to 2023

“This tragic incident is not the way any of us want 2023 to start and my heartfelt condolences to everyone affected by this fire,” Perth and Kinross Provost Xander McDaid said in a Twitter thread.

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