OAP flees from blazing home

Feb 10 2011 by Bryan Brough, Paisley Daily Express

A PENSIONER was rushed to hospital yesterday after a ferocious fire destroyed his home.

John Docherty, who is in his 70s, managed to flee the inferno, which ripped through his house in Glenallan Way, Foxbar, Paisley, in a matter of minutes.

As the OAP, who was dressed only in his nightclothes, stumbled out into the freezing cold, horrified neighbours rushed over to help him.

Mr Docherty had suffered smoke inhalation and the trembling pensioner was taken into a nearby house, where he was cared for until medics arrived and took him to Paisley’s Royal Alexandra Hospital.

Yesterday afternoon, his condition was described as stable.

Neighbours have revealed that Mr Docherty’s wife Margaret was not at home at the time of the fire, which is not thought to be suspicious.

She was already in the RAH, being treated in connection with another matter.

Smoke and flames began to engulf the two-bedroomed home in Glenallan Way at around 5.20am yesterday and the heat from the fire was so intense that windows were blown out.

Neighbour Ronnie Cairney, 55, told how he was wakened by the sound of the smoke alarm coming from the Docherty house.

He then looked out of his window and spotted Mr Docherty standing alone on the doorstep as smoke belched out of the property.

Mr Cairney added: “I alerted everyone in my own home and then rushed outside to help Mr Docherty. There was smoke everywhere.

“When another neighbour rushed over to help Mr Docherty, I went to other homes in the street to alert people who were still in their beds.

“I’m told that Mr Docherty is going to be okay, although he is suffering from smoke inhalation.”

Another resident said: “John and Margaret’s house has been totally gutted by the fire. It appears that everything inside has been destroyed.

“It was a fierce fire which swept through the whole house and it looks like the smoke alarm saved John’s life.”

More than 10 firefighters, some wearing breathing masks, were sent to the scene to tackle the blaze.

Officers cordoned off the area and, after the flames were put out, they stayed on to remove smouldering remains in case the fire rekindled.

Police stood guard at the front and back of the house yesterday morning as fire officials investigated the cause of the outbreak.

It’s thought that an electricial fault may have led to the blaze.

Strathclyde Fire and Rescue Area Commander John Ironside said: “Having a smoke alarm in your home saves lives and this incident in Glenallan Way backs that up.

“We would urge everyone to make sure they have a smoke alarm in their home.”