Residents evacuated and five injured after fire at block of flats in Falkirk

Five people have been injured after a block of flats caught fire in Falkirk.

Crews from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) as well as the Scottish Ambulance Service were called to the scene of the blaze on Wednesday morning around 12.19am.

The fire started within a flat on the third floor of a building on Russel Street in Falkirk.

All nearby residents were evacuated, and five casualties were treated by paramedics.

A total of four ambulances were called and two people were taken to Forth Valley Hospital.

A SFRS spokesperson said: “We were alerted at 12.19am on Wednesday, August 9 to reports of a dwelling fire on Russel Street in Falkirk.

“Operations control initially mobilised two appliances to the scene, then quickly escalated to four appliances and firefighters fought a fire within a flat on the third floor.

“All nearby residents were evacuated from their properties and five casualties were rescued and passed into the care of the Scottish Ambulance Service.

“Crews left the scene at 3.53am after ensuring the fire was extinguished and the area was made safe.”

A Scottish Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We received a call at 12.21am on August 9 to attend a fire on Russel Street, Falkirk. We dispatched four ambulances to the scene and two patients were transported to Forth Valley Hospital.”