The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) is working with local businesses to review their fire safety measures after a fatal fire which killed three people and a dog.
Police Scotland family liaison officers are also continuing to offer support to families affected by the fire at the New County Hotel in Perth on Monday, January 2.
Siblings Donna Janse Van Rensburg, 44, and Sharon McLean, 47, both from Aberdeen, and Keith Russell, 38, from Edinburgh, died in the blaze at Perth’s New County Hotel.
Donna’s dog Joey, a three-year-old King Charles spaniel, was also killed.
Senior officers from both Police Scotland and the SFRS told Perth and Kinross Council’s Housing and Communities Committee that the investigation into the fire – described as “really complex” – is ongoing.
SFRS area commander Jason Sharp said: “We continue to work within the business sector with stakeholders to review premises – commercial premises in particular.
“What we’ve done on the back of the New County Hotel is to provide some assurance to the group we’ve worked with stakeholders within the local authority and the private sector to review any similar premises with the prevention and protection matters.
“And we have recovered to our pre-pandemic fire safety audit targets which we are quite pleased to report.”
Chief superintendent Phil Davison repeated condolences on behalf of the emergency services and told councillors: “Members will be aware that three people and a dog unfortunately lost their lives as a consequence of the fire and that a number of other people were provided treatment for injuries following evacuation and rescue by the fire service.
“Our thoughts – and I think I speak very much on the part of the fire service on this as well – very much remain with the families and loved ones of those who have died and those who have been affected by the incident.
“I can clarify and provide assurance to members continued support continues to be provided via our specially-trained family liaison officers to the families involved.”
Chief Supt Davison added that the investigation into the blaze is “really complex” and said: “It would be remiss of me not to take the opportunity to thank firefighters, police officers and ambulance personnel who responded to the incident but also to a number of other partners including Perth and Kinross Council, elected members and our local businesses for the continued support across the community. This is a really complex investigation that commenced immediately following the fire.
“There is really close engagement ongoing between Police Scotland, the fire service, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service in particular and the local authority who have given really good support in and around this as the investigation continues.
“Whilst I am sure there are natural questions about the investigation about causation factors, about likely outcomes, unfortunately the position is that we are unable to comment much at this stage given that it is a live and complex ongoing investigation. It is still very much in the early stages.”
Labour Perth City North councillor Brian Leishman asked what emotional support was available to firefighters, how that support was provided and what the uptake was.
SFRS group commander Serge Kabamba said: “The support available within the service is managed through our health and wellbeing department.
“They are a dedicated team which deal with all matters of health and wellbeing – physical and mental.
“We do have a number of procedures in place – including a post-incident support policy which is implemented at all incidents where it is determined that there may be potential for further support being required.
“On this being activated it then goes to an external body who will provide that support, get in touch with the colleagues that are identified and signpost and assist in supporting them through any issue they are currently having.”
