Woman pronounced dead after fire rips through block of flats in Paisley

A woman has died after a fire ripped through a block of flats in Paisley.

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.

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

The blaze ripped through a block of flats. Michael Mckinlay via

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.”

A Scottish Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We received a call at 22:44pm on Thursday, April 13, 2023 to attend an incident on Belmont Road, Paisley.

“One ambulance and three special operations response teams (SORT) were dispatched to the scene.”