Fire at Perth block of flats treated as suspicious
A fire in a common close in a block of flats in Perth is being treated as suspicious, Tayside Police have said.
Emergency services were alerted to the fire in Firbank Road in the Letham area of the city at about 23:35 on Saturday.
Fire crews discovered a well established blaze within a ground floor store room, trapping four residents who were rescued using ladders.
The fire was extinguished within a hour and an investigation into its cause has been launched.
Tayside Fire and Rescue said no one was injured but extensive damage was caused within the close and the building's residents have had to be temporarily relocated.
Station manager Ewan Baird, who was on scene during the incident, said: "Incidents of this nature have the potential for devastating consequences.
"During this year there have been a number of similar incidents throughout Perth.
"Firefighters will now be targeting the area directly, working with the residents in an attempt to prevent similar incidents."
He also urged people to ensure that wheelie bins and other combustible items were stored at the rear of properties and not in common areas.