Tributes paid as woman who died in Paisley tenement fire named locally

Tributes have been paid after a woman who died in a fire in Paisley was named locally.

Fire crews were alerted to the blaze on Belmont Road in Gallowhill at around 10.45pm on Thursday.

Six fire engines, two aerial rescue platforms and several police cars and ambulances were in attendance.

A 38-year-old woman was pronounced dead at the scene.

She has been identified by locals and family members as Claire McFadyen, from the local area.

Photos from the scene showed the fire stretching across the roofs of numerous flats with smoke billowing into the sky.

A joint fire investigation alongside colleagues from Police Scotland is now under way. STV News

A fundraiser started by her friend, Sheree Carr, said Ms McFadyen was a “mother, daughter, sister, aunty and friend”.

The JustGiving page, with a goal of £500 to pay for funeral costs, read: “It saddens me to have to write this about a close childhood friend and family member.

“Claire was her very own person. She was kind, loving and would give her last to anyone. She was a mother, daughter, sister, Aunty and friend.

“She just loved all her friends and family so much. I would like to raise some funds to help the family pay towards the funeral costs.

“Please if you can give anything at all to help this family take some of the stress away from them during this very sad time please do.”

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 10.45pm on Thursday, April 13, 2023, police were called to reports of a fire at a property on Belmont Road, Paisley.

“A 38-year-old woman was pronounced dead at the scene. Officers remain in attendance and enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances.

“Anyone with information should call 101 quoting reference 3922 of April 13, 2023.”

SFRS area commander, David McCarrey, said: “Six fire appliances and two aerial rescue platforms were mobilised to the scene, where crews extinguished a well-developed fire that had taken hold within a first floor flat in a two-storey building.

“Firefighters located one woman from inside the property who was sadly pronounced dead at the scene. Our thoughts are very much with her family, friends and all of those affected at this difficult time.”

A joint fire investigation alongside colleagues from Police Scotland is now under way, he confirmed.

A Renfrewshire Council spokesperson said: “We were alerted to a fire on Belmont Road in the Gallowhill area of Paisley by emergency services last night. Police Scotland has confirmed a 38-year-old woman has died and our thoughts and condolences are with the family and friends.

“We are supporting the emergency services who remain on scene and our housing teams are supporting anyone needing accommodation.

“Anyone with information relating to the fire should call 101.”