Three people and a dog are reported to have died in an early-morning hotel blaze in Perth and Kinross.
Emergency services were called to the New County Hotel in Perth shortly after 5am on Monday.
Police Scotland confirmed a “number of guests” had been evacuated from the building in the city centre.
Deputy First Minister John Swinney described the fatalities as “heartbreaking news”.
Mr Swinney, the MSP for Perthshire North, tweeted: “My sympathies with all affected by this tragedy.”
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His comments came after Police Scotland confirmed: “Shortly before 5.10am on Monday, January 2, 2023, police were called to a report of a fire at the New County Hotel, County Place, Perth.
“Emergency services are at the scene.
“A number of guests have been evacuated from the hotel.
“Members of the public are being asked to avoid the area.”
Roads around the hotel were closed off as as the emergency services responded, with Perth and Kinross Council also advising people to avoid the area.
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Chief Superintendent Phil Davison said: “Our thoughts are very much with the families and loved ones of those who have died at what is a very difficult time for everyone.
“Our inquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances of what has happened and officers are conducting a joint investigation with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.”
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) said it had sent nine appliances to the scene after the alarm was raised at 5.02am.
A spokesperson for the SFRS said: “We are currently in attendance alongside emergency service partners at a commercial building fire at County Place in Perth.”
Meanwhile, a Scottish Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We received a call from Scottish Fire and Rescue Service of a fire at the New County Hotel in Perth at 05:05hrs.
“We responded with 21 resources including our special operation resource team, with our first resource on scene at 05:12hrs.”
Jason Sharp is the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s Local Senior Officer for Perth, Kinross, Angus and Dundee.
He said: “We were alerted at 5.02am on Monday, January 2, to reports of a commercial building fire at County Place, Perth.
“Operations Control mobilised nine fire appliances and specialist resources to the scene where over 60 firefighters were in attendance.
“Firefighters worked hard to rescue a number of casualties from the building and transferred them into the care of the Scottish Ambulance Service.
“Tragically, three people were pronounced dead at the scene.
“Our thoughts are very much with the family, friends and the wider community affected at this difficult time.
“A joint investigation alongside Police Scotland colleagues is now ongoing.”
