Man Killed In Blaze At Sheltered Complex

An investigation is under way after a man died in a fire at an Angus sheltered housing complex at the weekend. Police said the man, who was in his 50s and has not been named, died after being rescued at Blackfriars Court in Montrose.

Investigators are looking at whether the blaze in the two-storey building could have been started by the victim smoking in bed.

The man was the husband of the council warden at the complex, the emergency services said last night.

The warden, who was in the property with her grandson, escaped the blaze with the child before firefighters arrived.

Elderly residents at Blackfriars Court were too upset to comment yesterday.

Emergency services were called to the scene at around 3pm on Saturday.

Around 20 firefighters used six sets of breathing apparatus and a hosereel jet to tackle the blaze in a first-floor bedroom.

Crews from Montrose and Brechin were called to the outbreak, along with a command support unit and a breathing apparatus support unit from Dundee.

Tayside Fire and Rescue station manager Ron Massie said: “The Montrose crews were the first on the scene.

“There was a fire in the first-floor bedroom. They entered the premises to find a male on the bedroom floor.

“They rescued him from the property. When the paramedics checked him over he was found to be dead.

“The fire itself was contained within the bedroom.

“It wasn’t a major blaze. Within the room there was a lot of black smoke and heat, not a lot of flames.

“The crews worked well in arduous conditions to try and rescue the gentleman.

“Unfortunately it was not successful on this occasion.

“It was the warden’s husband who died in the fire.

“Once the lady of the property realised there was a fire, she left with her grandson.

“The premises did have a working smoke alarm which did operate.”

Mr Massie added: “It’s looking like it could be smoking in bed. It’s still one of a couple of possibilities, but’s that’s one of the avenues we’re investigating.

“We would stress the dangers of smoking in bed.”

A spokesman for Tayside Police said inquiries were continuing into the blaze.

He said: “Tayside Fire and Rescue, Scottish Ambulance Service and police were called to attend a fire in a flat in Western Road, Montrose.

“Upon arrival firefighters quickly extinguished the fire. A short time later a man in his 50s who had come from within the premises passed away whilst being treated outside.

“The cause of the fire is unknown and a joint investigation with police and the fire service is underway.”

Angus Council social work and health convener Alison Andrews said she was shocked and horrified to hear of the fatality.

She added: “That is tragic, just awful. My thoughts are with the family of the victim.”