Woman tells of inferno rescue
Rescue from top floor
Published:
A YOUNG woman who was rescued from the top flat of a burning tenement today spoke of her ordeal.
The fire broke out in an area where an extension is being built, and spread to 23-year-old Linda Middleton’s flat on Crown Street, Aberdeen.
The retail manager, who bought her home in April, said: “I had fallen asleep on the sofa watching TV. When I woke up I could smell smoke and thought the oven was on.
“I went into the hall and there was smoke there, then I went into the kitchen but it was outside – the roof was on fire.
“I opened the front door to run down the stairs but it was full of smoke.”
“I was screaming and scared because I was so high up and knew I couldn’t get out of the window. Then firefighters came in and carried me out.”
Six appliances plus a support unit and height vehicle were at the scene at about 7.45pm yesterday. Around 30 firefighters attended.
Station manager Mike Gray said: “Firefighters faced extreme conditions inside. It was hot, very smoky and they had to get to a top floor flat.”
There had been extensive smoke damage to the building, he said.
The cause of the blaze is being probed but it is not being treated as suspicious.
Meanwhile Ferryhill House Hotel was evacuated after a fire in the cellar.
Firefighters went to the scene at about 5.45pm but the fire was out.
In Elgin there was a fire at a flat on Kingsmills. It started in the sofa at the property at about 3.47pm. Three appliances from Elgin went to the scene and it is not yet known if the fire is being treated as suspicious.
And firefighters were called to a car fire in Heron Way, Kemnay, at 5.20pm. There were no casualties.
