Two sisters and a “loving father” were victims of a Fire in a hotel Scotland This week, the police said.
emergency services dispatched PerthMore than 60 firefighters worked to extinguish what they described as a “very complex incident” just after 5 a.m. on the second day of the New Year at the New County Hotel in New York City.
Three people who were reported dead at the scene have now been named Police Scotland,
Donna Janse Van Rensburg (left), 44, and Sharon McLean, 47, died after the New County Hotel fire
(Police Scotland/PA Wire)
Two of the dead are sisters Donna Janse Van Rensburg and Sharon McLean, aged 44 and 47, both from Aberdeen.
Keith Russell, 38, originally from Edinburgh, also lost his life. His family said: “Keith was a loving father and was loved by his entire family. He will be greatly missed.”
Both families have asked for privacy, and an investigation has been launched into the blaze at the two-storey hotel in Perth city centre.
The guests and two people living in a nearby flat block were evacuated safely. Eleven people were treated at the scene but did not require hospital treatment
Ms van Rensburg’s pet dog Joey, a three-year-old King Charles spaniel, was also killed in the fire.
Keith Russell, aged 38, was described as a ‘loving father’ who will be ‘greatly missed’
(Police Scotland/PA Wire)
John Swain, Deputy First Minister of Scotland, described the incident as “heartbreaking”, and Xander McDaid, Provost of Perth and Kinross, said: “This is not the saddest event any of us would want to see 2023 begin and my heartfelt condolences For all the people affected by this fire.
Investigators will send a report to the Procurator Fiscal, the public prosecutor who investigates fatal accidents and other deaths in Scotland.
Chief Superintendent Phil Davison said: “Our thoughts are with the family and friends of those who died, as well as with the many people affected by this incident.”
Emergency Services on scene at New County Hotel
(PA)
“A joint investigation with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service is underway and a report will be sent to the Procurator Fiscal. I would again like to thank all emergency services and partner agencies as well as the local community for their patience during the inquiry .
Area Commander Jason Sharpe of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service described the incident as a very “complex” incident, saying: “Our firefighters worked very hard in a very complex and challenging environment to contain the fire and further damage can be prevented from spreading.”