Three people and a dog died in a Perth hotel fire (BBC Scotland). After the fire broke out, fire and ambulance crews were called to County Place in Fair City. The fire report at the New County Hotel was at around 5 am (Daily Record). How fast did the police and fire brigade act? What was Nicola Sturgeon’s response? Who is responsible for this catastrophic incident?
Police and fire brigade’s fast action
As BBC Scotland says, emergency services were called to the New County Hotel at around 05:10. The services included 60 firefighters, 21 ambulance crews, and nine fire trucks. The crew evacuated the Hotel guests and two people from neighboring flats. The police set up a cordon and urged people to avoid the area. Scottish Ambulance Service treated eleven people were treated at the scene. They extinguished the fire at around 06:30 and discovered the bodies in a subsequent search. Before midday, police began removing them from blue tents close to the hotel into a private ambulance.
A hotel insider’s explanation
Daily Record: A terrified insider at a Perth hotel where three people died after a fire this morning has told how the blaze broke out while workers and guests slept. The man requested not to be named and said: “We heard the alarms and knew we had to get out. The fire started in the room next to mine.” The person was treated for smoke inhalation at the scene, along with ten others.
Casualties and people’s unpleasant feelings in New Year
As it says in Yahoo News, three people died in the fire. Moreover, the Scottish Ambulance Service told the BBC that they treated a further 11 the scene. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said a dog also died in the fire.
Moreover, people experience a catastrophic shock and an unpleasant feeling in the New Year. As Radio News Hub says, people in the area were shocked by what happened. Mr Wishart said that he knew the people of Perth would be devastated by this news. He said he would like to extend their deepest sympathies to those affected by this tragedy. Mr Wishart represents Perth and North Perth shire.
Nicola Sturgeon’s Response to the Perth hotel fire
According to BBC Scotland, First Minster Nicola Sturgeon described the Perth hotel fire as a “sad and shocking incident”. On Twitter, she added: “My deepest condolences are with the bereaved and my thoughts with all those involved.” I am also hugely grateful to the firefighters who responded and to our other emergency services.”
Perth hotel: “Terrible” hotel
The Perth hotel fire shows that the hotel was a terrible one and did not have standardized conditions. STV says that guests at the hotel had raised concerns over electric items in the hotel. In an interview with STV, John Swinney urged anyone staying at the hotel concerned to speak with the police. John Swinney is deputy First Minister.
Elsewhere Daily Record says that weeks before the Perth hotel fire tragedy, people criticized the hotel for its poor conditions. Several scathing reviews of Perth’s New County Hotel were left on TripAdvisor over the past few weeks. Several guests called the hotel the “worst hotel ever” just days before the tragedy. They also compared it to a cursed house in John Cleese’s hit 1970s comedy Fawlty Towers. The guests left reviews on TripAdvisor. Eight guests gave the establishment one out of five on the site. This is a “Terrible” review. The studies were conducted between November and December.
Sturgeon promises to tackle poverty
According to Aberdeen Live, in a New Year message, the First Minister referred to the poverty crisis in Scotland. She said tackling poverty amidst the cost-of-living crisis was a priority for her Government. In the New Year’s message, Ms Sturgeon said there was “much to look forward to” in 2023. She promised they would keep doing everything it could for the most vulnerable people in response to the crisis of cost-of-living
Officials’ expression of condolences
As says Daily Record, councilor Eric Drysdale warned members of the public that it was a “very serious incident”. Councilor Eric Drysdale is the Deputy leader of Perth & Kinross Council. According to inkl, Phil Davison said, “Our thoughts are very much with the families and loved ones of those who have died”. Phil Davison is Chief Superintendent. Deputy First Minister John Swinney described the fatalities as “heartbreaking news”. According to Radio News Hub, Local MP Pete Wishart described the fire news as “simply awful news”. This is awful news at the beginning of the year when many people are out celebrating.
Final remark
To sum up, officials’ expression of condolences is not enough. Perth hotel fire led to three people’s and one dog’s death. The incident left some people injured and many people shocked in the New Year. The hotel was a terrible one with faulty electricity and other unstandardized conditions. People usually choose to stay in such hotels as they cannot afford better ones. Due to poverty, those under the cost-of-living pressure choose such hotels for residence. Nicola Sturgeon must properly tackle poverty and its catastrophic consequences, such as the Perth hotel fire and people killing.
As it says in Aberdeen Live, Nicola Sturgeon has promised the Scottish Government would do ‘everything it can’ for the most vulnerable New Year message. There is an important question. Is it possible to tackle the poverty crisis if Scotland does not get its independence from London’s Government?
