Perth City Centre ward councillors have commended the emergency services who acted so swiftly to quell the blaze at the New County Hotel.
The fire at the County Place accommodation in the early hours of Monday morning tragically claimed the lives of three people and a dog.
Nine fire engines raced to the scene with 60 firefighters then evacuating guests, along with two people in neighbouring flats.
Twenty one ambulance crews were also at the scene treating 11 people as police officers cordoned off the street.
Perth and Kinross Council teams have also stepped in to help those displaced find temporary accommodation as a joint investigation continues.
Conservative Baillie councillor Chris Ahern said: “The fire at the New County Hotel is an awful incident and that people have lost their lives in a hotel fire is horrendous and our thoughts must be with the families of those that died.
“Praise must be given to the emergency services, especially the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service in their response.
“Thanks should also go to council officers who quickly looked after those displaced by the fire and managed to get them somewhere safe to stay.
“We must now wait and see what the cause of the fire was and why people lost their lives, as well as any lessons to be learned from this tragic incident.”
Liberal Democrat councillor Peter Barrett added: “Firefighters were on the scene within minutes of the fire being reported.
“I am sure that the speed and scale of their response prevented this terrible incident becoming even worse.
“I also want to express my thanks to the police for securing the site and ambulance services for the assistance.
“Last but by no means least I am very grateful to the council teams who mobilised quickly to provide accommodation.”
SNP depute leader of the council, councillor Eric Drysdale, added: “I would like to take this opportunity, on behalf of the whole community, to pay tribute to the exceptional emergency services response and particularly the efforts of our brave firefighters who, in extremely challenging conditions, tackled the inferno and prevented the spread of fire to the rest of the hotel and neighbouring properties.”
