The three victims of a hotel fire in Perth on January 2 have been named by police as two sisters from Aberdeen and a man from Edinburgh.
Sisters Donna Janse Van Rensburg, 44, and Sharon McLean, 47, both from the Granite City, and Keith Russell, 38, from Edinburgh, died in the fire that took hold at Perth's New County Hotel in the early hours of Monday morning. Donna's dog Joey, a three-year-old King Charles spaniel, was also killed in the blaze.
Both families have asked for privacy. Keith’s family has released the following statement: “Keith was a loving father and loved by all his family. He will be greatly missed."
A massive emergency service response was put in place after the fire broke out at around 5am, sending hotel guests screaming into the streets. More than 60 firefighters and 21 ambulance units were involved in tackling the fire and treating the injured at its peak.
In all, 11 people were treated at the scene and none required further care at hospital. A joint investigation is now underway, conducted by police and fire specialists.
Eyewitnesses told how people were "crying" in the street after they had dashed out of the County Place hotel to safety. Images shared on social media showed flames pouring from a top-floor window at the accommodation as firefighters sprayed the area with hose reel jets.
Sri Lankan dad Manju Prasanna, 38, had just arrived in Scotland on New Year's Day with his wife and child and had been spending their first night in the hotel when the fire started. He told the Record: "I woke up to some outside the room shouting to 'get out' as the alarms went off.
"Then I heard a man shouting ‘My room is on fire’. I woke up my wife and kid and told them we had to go."
Another hotel resident who escaped the flames said the smoke inside the building was so thick they could only see "two inches" ahead of themselves. They added: "The fire started in the room next to mine.
“We could only see about two inches in front of us, the smoke was so thick. I tried to help as many folk as I could but I could only see a little in front of me."
It has since emerged that both Perth and Kinross Council and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service had expressed safety concerns about the New County Hotel in recent weeks. Environmental health and fire safety officers had issued the building's owner, Rashid Hussain, with improvement notices that he was required to address by law.
Hussain has not responded to multiple requests for comment from the Record since the tragedy unfolded on Monday.
Chief Superintendent Phil Davison said: “Our thoughts continue to be with the family and friends of those who died as well as the many people affected by this incident. A joint investigation with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service is ongoing and a report will be sent to the Procurator Fiscal.
“I would like to again thank all the emergency services and partner agencies involved as well as the local community for their patience while enquiries are carried out.”
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - sign up to our daily newsletter here.
