Care Home Evacuated Due To Blaze

Almost 30 elderly residents have been led to safety after a fire broke out at a care home in Aberdeenshire.

{mosimage}The 27 residents, most aged in their 80s, were taken to another care home after the blaze took hold at the council-run Ythanvale Home in Ellon.

Six residents had to be rescued from their rooms because thick smoke on the ground floor stopped them escaping.

Fire crews were called just before 2000 GMT on Saturday when a light fitting fell down and set fire to a carpet.

According to David Rout, station manager at Aberdeen fire station, a firefighter and a member of staff carried two residents to safety.

“There was thick black smoke and fire in the ground floor corridor,” he said. “It was blocking the escape route for the residents in that wing.

“If it had not been for the swift action taken by the care home staff it could have had far more serious consequences.

“The staff were exemplary in their actions and if it had not been for them the potential consequences could have been horrendous.”

An 83-year-old resident was later taken to hospital as a precaution to be treated for smoke inhalation.

Residents in other wings of the building, which house 32 people, were allowed to stay in the home after the fire was put out by three fire crews.

About 17 residents affected were taken to temporary accommodation, including the other home in Fraserburgh, and will remain there until the electrics in the fire-hit building have been declared safe.

Colin Mackenzie, of Aberdeenshire Council, said staff and emergency services dealt with the situation in an “excellent” manner.

“Everyone acted very competently and the fire brigade arrived very quickly,” he said.

“The staff have been excellent in the way they have responded to the situation and other staff have come in off duty to help.”