Teen arrested as six people rescued from Coatbridge tower block after fire breaks out in flat

A teenager has been arrested after six people were rescued from a tower block in North Lanarkshire after a fire broke out in a top floor flat.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) were alerted to the fire in a top floor flat of a multi-story building on Coats Street in Coatbridge at around 1.45pm on Monday.

14 fire engines including specialist and height vehicles were deployed to the scene with six casualties rescued from the building and passed to ambulance crews.

Police Scotland confirmed on Monday a 17-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the incident.

The SFRS said the fire has been extinguished but crews are likely to remain on the scene for some time to make the area safe.

Special operations response teams (SORT) and a trauma team were also sent to the tower block by the Scottish Ambulance Service who treated and released six people at the scene.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 1.45pm on Monday, 1 July, police were made aware of a fire at a block of flats in Coats Street, Coatbridge.

“Emergency services remain in attendance and a 17-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the incident.

“Enquiries are ongoing.”

A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “We were alerted at 1.29pm on Monday, July 1 to reports of a fire within a flat on the top floor of a multi-story building, Highcoats, Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire.

“Operations Control mobilised a total of 14 fire appliances, including specialist and height vehicles, to the scene and firefighters have now extinguished the flames and are working to make the area safe.

“Six casualties were rescued from the building using fire hoods and handed into the care of the Scottish Ambulance Service.

“Crews will remain in attendance for some time.”

A spokesperson for the Scottish Ambulance Service added: “We received a call at 1.44pm to attend an incident on High Coats, Coatbridge.

“We dispatched multiple resources to the scene, including Special Operations Response Teams (SORT) and a trauma team.

“Six patients were treated and released at scene.”