THE inquiry into the deadly fire at the Cameron House hotel has heard that the two men who died in the blaze tried to a smash open a window to escape.
The fire at the five-star Cameron House Hotel claimed the lives of Simon Midgley, 32, and his partner, Richard Dyson, 38, from London in December 2017.
A fatal accident inquiry into the blaze at the hotel on the banks of Loch Lomond, near Balloch, is being held at Paisley Sheriff Court.
Fire investigator Gary Love told the inquiry how he found evidence the couple had tried to escape from the blaze.
“I noted that a large picture frame was on its side directly below the window of the second floor landing,” the 57-year-old said, describing the area of the hotel where the men’s bodies were found.
He added that the “frame had been prised from the adjacent wall, most likely with the intention to be used to smash the window”.
The now retired investigator for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, told Crown Counsel Graeme Jessop that they had tried to break through a laminated double-glazed window, which could not be opened, and had only managed to smash through one pane.
Love told the inquiry his investigation found the blaze had started in the concierge cupboard of the Grade B listed building, and inside they found evidence of a galvanised bucket, kindling, and a shovel.
He told the inquiry more than 75% of the main building of the 128-room hotel had been “severely damaged” in the incident, and the fire had caused the majority of the roof to collapse.
Love said his conclusion was the fire was accidental, and was most probably the cause of a careless act.
“Ashes have a low thermal conductivity, consequently, it’s not rare for individuals to believe ashes are dead while in reality hot or smouldering embers are still contained within,” he told the inquiry.
Love told Sheriff Thomas McCartney that studies have shown embers causing a fire hours after disposal and could smoulder for days.
Earlier on Tuesday, the inquiry was shown security camera footage of night porter Christopher O'Malley filling a black plastic bag with ashes and placing it into a cupboard, which also stored kindling for a nearby fireplace.
The inquiry remains ongoing.
