Bowlers praised for home rescue

Forty firefighters attended the blaze at Westbay Nursing Home

A group of bowlers who helped rescue elderly residents from a nursing home have been praised by police.

One woman was taken to hospital after the blaze, which caused major damage to Westbay Nursing Home in Broughty Ferry.

The bowlers helped firefighters and staff to lead the 33 residents to safety after the blaze broke out in the roof area on Wednesday evening.

Chief Superintendent Ian Alexander of Tayside Police said they had played "a major role" in the rescue.

The members of Broughty Ferry Bowling Club went to help after seeing flames on the roof of the building.

They took residents into the bowling club and presented themselves to the emergency services command centre with cups of tea for staff Chief Superintendent Ian Alexander Tayside Police

"They were in the home from the very outset getting people out, before the fire brigade even got there," said Mr Alexander.

"Some of the bowling club members were retired firemen and police officers so they went in and alerted staff to what there had seen and they helped with the evacuation. They played a major role.

"They also took residents into the bowling club and presented themselves to the emergency services command centre with cups of tea for staff."

Tayside Fire Brigade said the blaze had not triggered the automatic fire detection system because it broke out in the roof space.

Assistant Divisional Officer David Stapely said the alarm had been raised after staff noticed the smell of smoke.

'Fear and alarm'

He said firefighters had arrived to a scene of "fear and great alarm".

"The officer in charge of the first fire crews in attendance took control and, assisted by the nursing home staff, they were able to evacuate the elderly residents - many of whom were unable to walk unassisted," he said.

"Firefighters had to make repeated journeys into the building, which by the later stages of the operation was beginning to fill with smoke, to rescue the residents.

An investigation is under way into the cause of the fire

"We had to improvise using chairs and mattresses to achieve that aim."

Residents were taken to the nearby St Luke's Church hall after they were evacuated.

They were given temporary accommodation at other nursing homes in Dundee and Fife.

One woman was taken to Dundee's Ninewells Hospital suffering from chest pains, while two others were detained at the Royal Victoria Hospital for observation.

A detailed investigation into the cause of the blaze was getting under way on Thursday.

The fire brigade said sprinklers were not fitted in the home, although it did have an automatic fire detection system.