Police probe blaze at flats

Apr 4 2008 By Shirley Bartynek

POLICE were this week following a positive line of inquiry after a block of flats in Carfin were set on fire.

Seven people had to be rescued from the flats at Marian Drive about 8.25pm on Saturday.

Firefighters from Motherwell and Bellshill were called to the blaze.

They say they were confronted by a fire in a heavily smoke-logged stairwell in the three-storey block of flats.

Wearing breathing equipment, they fought their way into the building and rescued residents before putting the blaze out.

Firefighters placed a ladder on the side of the building and three residents climbed out of a window of a first-floor flat and down the ladders to safety.

A further four residents were led to safety by firefighters.

All were treated for varying degrees of smoke inhalation by paramedics and firefighters at the scene.

Fortunately, no-one needed further medical attention.

A Bellshill Police spokesman this week appealed for witnesses.

“A fire had been deliberately set within a common close and the area was covered with thick black smoke,” he said.

“The blaze put residents’ lives in danger.

“Strathclyde Fire and Rescue quickly attended the scene and extinguished the fire in the middle landing of the flats. “We are now following a positive line of inquiry.”