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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Man dies in city centre flat fire | Man dies in city centre flat fire |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| One man has died and two other people have been injured in a blaze at a block of flats in the centre of Dundee. | One man has died and two other people have been injured in a blaze at a block of flats in the centre of Dundee. |
| Firefighters were called to the scene in St Andrews Street just after 1000 BST on Thursday. | Firefighters were called to the scene in St Andrews Street just after 1000 BST on Thursday. |
| They used a ladder to remove two men and a woman from the first floor flat window but emergency workers said one man died from his injuries. | |
| An eyewitness who tried to get into the flat said he was hampered by a metal grille and steel-enforced door. | An eyewitness who tried to get into the flat said he was hampered by a metal grille and steel-enforced door. |
| Michael Sinclair, 27, who works in Roe-bucks barber shop close to the old-style tenement flats, said he raised the alarm when a customer told him about the fire. | Michael Sinclair, 27, who works in Roe-bucks barber shop close to the old-style tenement flats, said he raised the alarm when a customer told him about the fire. |
| There was a lot of panic. I just wanted to get people out Eyewitness Michael Sinclair | There was a lot of panic. I just wanted to get people out Eyewitness Michael Sinclair |
| He told the BBC Scotland news website: "I knocked on all the doors to make sure that everyone got out. But when I got to the flat affected there was a metal grille on the door. It was a steel enforced door so I couldn't get into the flat. | He told the BBC Scotland news website: "I knocked on all the doors to make sure that everyone got out. But when I got to the flat affected there was a metal grille on the door. It was a steel enforced door so I couldn't get into the flat. |
| "I tried to kick the door as much as I could to awaken the people but as soon as I lifted the letter box smoke came pouring out. | "I tried to kick the door as much as I could to awaken the people but as soon as I lifted the letter box smoke came pouring out. |
| "I gathered at that point that it was serious and there would be casualties. | "I gathered at that point that it was serious and there would be casualties. |
| "There was a lot of panic. I just wanted to get people out." | "There was a lot of panic. I just wanted to get people out." |
| Another eyewitness, Graham Forbes, who owns the chip shop near the flats, said firefighters tried to use bolt cutters to get through the main entrance of the flat but the trapped residents had to be taken out through the window. | Another eyewitness, Graham Forbes, who owns the chip shop near the flats, said firefighters tried to use bolt cutters to get through the main entrance of the flat but the trapped residents had to be taken out through the window. |
| He said: "Someone told me there was a fire in the flats and when I went out it looked like it was just the curtains which had gone up. | He said: "Someone told me there was a fire in the flats and when I went out it looked like it was just the curtains which had gone up. |
| 'Metal grille' | 'Metal grille' |
| "Then the next thing it seemed to die out and I thought someone had put it out but then iit came back up again. | "Then the next thing it seemed to die out and I thought someone had put it out but then iit came back up again. |
| "Bolt cutters were used on the door of the flat but when the fireman came out he said they were no use. He couldn't get the metal grille off." | "Bolt cutters were used on the door of the flat but when the fireman came out he said they were no use. He couldn't get the metal grille off." |
| A forensic investigation is being carried out | A forensic investigation is being carried out |
| Fire incident commander Andy Hermiston said he believes the fire broke out in the lounge.He would not comment on the problems with the grille. | Fire incident commander Andy Hermiston said he believes the fire broke out in the lounge.He would not comment on the problems with the grille. |
| The injured man and woman were taken to Ninewells Hospital for treatment. | The injured man and woman were taken to Ninewells Hospital for treatment. |
| Alongside the block of flats, several businesses, including a designer bridal shop, chip shop and newsagents, were evacuated. | Alongside the block of flats, several businesses, including a designer bridal shop, chip shop and newsagents, were evacuated. |
| Police said the dead man's identity would not be released until next of kin have been informed. | Police said the dead man's identity would not be released until next of kin have been informed. |
| They have sent a forensic team to the scene. | They have sent a forensic team to the scene. |
| Det Ch Insp Ewen West, from Tayside Police, said the three people in the flat were believed to be Asian. | Det Ch Insp Ewen West, from Tayside Police, said the three people in the flat were believed to be Asian. |
| He added that it was too early to speculate on the cause of the fire. | He added that it was too early to speculate on the cause of the fire. |