A 38-year-old woman has died following a horrific fire at a series of properties in Paisley.
Emergency services rushed to Belmont Road in the Gallowhill area of the Renfrewshire town shortly before 11pm on Thursday. Six fire engines and a height appliance were in attendance at the peak of the fire, which was "well-developed" by the time crews arrived to put it out.
Police have now launched an investigation into the cause of the blaze after confirming the death this morning. Fire crews remain on the scene dampening down the building.
A local , who wished to remain anonymous, told how residents were woken up in the night by the noise.
The told the Paisley Daily Express: “It’s absolutely devastating, heartbreaking. It looks like it’s started at one house and spread along six or eight of them.
“People will have lost everything and one poor family has lost a loved one.
"We could hear the fire alarms going off for what seemed like hours. It was a constant ringing just letting us all know the building was burning.
"It was all the noise that woke us and, when we looked out, it was pitch black but also so bright with the flames.
“The fire had been burning for at least an hour before the fire service could access the fire hydrant. It was chaos. I think they only had one hose and it was taking them forever to get a hold of the fire.
“Nobody should be woken up in the middle of the night with their world on fire around them.
“I pray that those affected get the support they need. Nobody deserves this. Absolutely heartbreaking. I’m sure the community will rally round and help anyone in anyway that they can.
"I’ve already seen a post about offering help; that’s the good thing about Paisley. There’s always someone willing to help. The community will always try to do their bit.”
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 10.45pm on Thursday, 13 April, 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 13 April, 2023.”
Police have established a cordon in Belmont Road as they begin their investigations. It is unclear how long the street will be closed.
However, the building has suffered extensive damage. Images suggest the roof of the dwelling has collapsed under the strain of the heat and flames.
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.”
A Scottish Ambulance Service spokesperson added: “We received a call at 22:44 on Thursday, 13 April 2023 to attend an incident on Belmont Road, Paisley. One ambulance and three special operations response teams (SORT) were dispatched to the scene.”
A Renfrewshire Council spokesperson said they were supporting any residents who have been displaced by the blaze.
They 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 101.”
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