Published: Friday, 30th November, 2007 09:00
Pensioner escapes flat blaze
By Nicola Findlay
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AN ELDERLY woman had a lucky escape after fire ripped through her Alloa flat.
Firefighters were called to the upper flat in Ashley Terrace around 5.45am on Thursday.
It is thought the elderly resident, who was taken to Stirling Royal Infirmary to be treated for smoke inhalation, called the fire brigade herself and managed to get out of the flat before firefighters arrived.
Two engines from Alloa attended the fire, which was well alight when crews reached the scene.
Four firefighters entered the flat wearing breathing apparatus, and it took them over an hour to bring the blaze under control, with the last crew leaving around 10am.
The woman’s next door neighbour was at a friend’s house when the fire broke out, but was told to return to Ashley Terrace by firefighters.
He told the Advertiser, “Someone must have been looking out for me because I wasn’t in when the fire started but when I came back it was pretty bad.
“If the firemen hadn’t been able to find me they said they would have had to break into my flat check there was no one inside.
“Apparently, my kitchen was black with smoke which was coming through the loft and the firemen said that it would have only taken 10 more minutes for the fire to spread to my flat.
“I have been left with a layer of black dust because of the smoke, and it will also take a while for the smell to go away, but the main thing is that no-one was hurt.
“I think the woman was very lucky to get out when she did because I understand that her flat has been pretty much gutted by the fire.”
Another Ashley Terrace resident said she was wakened by the sound of the sirens.
“I heard the fire engine and when I looked outside I just saw all the smoke coming from the flat across the road and I remember thinking that it was really bad,” she said.
“My first thought was for the elderly lady who lives there, as well as her neighbours, and I was so relieved when the firemen told me that she had got out.
“I was also told that the boy downstairs heard the woman’s fire alarm going off and ran outside to check what was happening.
“But that she was already standing at the back of the flat by this point.”
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