Woman, 38, dies in major fire in block of Paisley flats
Belmont Road remains cordoned off this morning after the blaze which impacted a number of properties
Last updated 14th Apr 2023
A woman has died after a major fire broke out in a block of flats in the Gallowhill area of Paisley last night.
The fire started at around 10:30 pm and six fire engines and two aerial rescue platforms arrived to find the fire stretching across a number of properties.
A 38-year-old woman was pronounced dead at the scene on Belmont Road, where emergency services remain to establish the full circumstances of the blaze.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 10.45pm on Thursday, April 13, 2023, police were called to reports of a fire at a property on Belmont Road, Paisley.
“A 38-year-old woman was pronounced dead at the scene.
“Officers remain in attendance and enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances.
“Anyone with information should call 101 quoting reference 3922 of April 13, 2023.”
Eyewitnesses say they felt hopeless while they watched the fire: "The flames were just licking up into the sky and there were flames everywhere," one man said.
He added: "The flames were spreading through to the other flats and as we all watched on, the roofs started caving in, it spreads, and all you can do is watch on."
Neighbours say the fire was not contained until around 5am this morning.
The block has been left without a roof
A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “We were alerted at 10.37pm on Thursday, 13 April 2023 to reports of a dwelling fire Belmont Road in the Gallowhill area of Paisley.
“In total six fire appliances and two aerial rescue platforms were mobilised to the scene.
“Firefighters extinguished a well-developed fire that had taken hold within a first floor flat in a two-storey building.
“One appliance and one aerial platform remains at the scene this morning.”
Housing support available
A Renfrewshire Council spokesperson said: “We were alerted to a fire on Belmont Road in the Gallowhill area of Paisley by emergency services last night. Police Scotland has confirmed a 38-year-old woman has died and our thoughts and condolences are with the family and friends.
“We are supporting the emergency services who remain on scene and our housing teams are supporting anyone needing accommodation.
“Anyone with information relating to the fire should call Police Scotland on 101 quoting reference 3922 of 13 April, 2023.”
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