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People flee after fire breaks out in flats        3/10/14

 

Stornoway fire scene photos     

People fled for their lives when a blaze threatened to spread through a block of flats in the heart of Stornoway town centre.

 

The fire wrecked the interior of Bliss Therapy - a holistic health and beauty salon - located within The Granite Building at 36 Cromwell Street during the early hours of Friday.  

 

Access is through a communal alleyway leading to an external staircase.

 

Residents - including a mother and baby, it is believed - were at risk at being trapped inside as the blaze took hold at a shared entrance hallway.

 

Over 20 fire-fighters fought the flames and prevented the blaze from spreading to adjoining flats within the Category B listed tenement building above the Scottish Hydro shop.

 

Eight wore breathing sets to get closer to the fire in choking smoke and searing heat. A 10.5 metre ladder was also used.

 

Two appliances from Stornoway, one from Shawbost and one from Ness attended.

 

It is understood police officers raised the alarm after smelling smoke around 2.40am on Friday morning.

 

Residents rushed past the fire at the shared hallway  to safety.

 

Their landlord made arrangements for them to stay at a local hotel or B&Bs

 

Firefighters searched their flats in case the fire had spread and are believed to have smashed down the door of a neighbouring accountant’s office to check it was safe.

 

The entrance lobby was destroyed by fire and there was severe smoke damage to both maisonettes and smoke damage to shops on either side of the lobby entrance. Floorboards in the salon were badly damaged, it is understood.

 

No one was injured as people managed to get out before they were trapped by the fire .

 

Stornoway fire damage photos