Three men hospitalised after dramatic escape from 'fierce' blaze in Pollokshields

Sep 24 2012

Albert Drive fire Image 1

The scene at Albert Drive this morning

THREE men are in hospital after jumping from a tenement window to escape an early morning blaze in the city's south side.

Another four people were rescued from the building, in Pollokshields, by firefighters using ladders.

Fire crews battle a "fierce" blaze in the basement of the four-storey tenement after they arrived at the scene in Albert Drive at around 2.25am.

At the height of the incident, 35 firefighters were involved and a section of the road was closed.

They found residents shouting for help at the windows of their homes on the upper floors as thick black smoke poured into the flats from the fire below.

Strathclyde Police said three men, aged 32, 60 and 61, jumped from a first-floor window into the back garden.

They were taken to the city's Victoria Infirmary where they are in a stable condition.

Police said six people were also evacuated from a nearby building as a precaution.

Strathclyde Fire and Rescue said firefighters battled through "intense heat and smoke" to extinguish the blaze, while other firefighters rescued four residents from their flats above using ladders.

Assistant Chief Officer Robert Scott said; "Basement fires are notoriously difficult to deal with due to the enclosed nature of the area on fire, and the build-up of heat and smoke. Firefighters have to call upon all of their training and expertise to tackle such fires successfully."

A joint investigation will be carried out by Strathclyde Fire and Rescue and Strathclyde Police.