Forres family taken to hospital as neighbours describe flames shooting from home

By Lauren Taylor and Ross Hempseed

January 19 2023, 10:02 am

Fire crews remain on the scene inspecting the fire-damaged building. Image: Jasperimage

A family were taken to hospital after a huge blaze broke out in their home earlier today.

Eight fire crews were sent to the property on Twinning Link in Forres at about 8am.

Six pumps and an aerial appliance tackled the flames, which tore through the timber-clad two-storey building and completely destroyed the roof.

Neighbours described seeing “lots of flames” and thick black smoke “billowing” above the snow-covered housing estate owned by Grampian Housing Association.

Six people – two adults and four children – were taken to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness as a precaution.

At the height of the fire, appliances from Forres, Fochabers, Elgin, Nairn, Inverness, and Altens in Aberdeen were at the scene.

An aerial appliance could also be seen assessing the damage from above, with firefighters peering through the large gaps in the charred roof.

Fire crews are using the aerial appliance to inspect damage to the roof. Image: Jasperimage.

The teams managed to extinguish the blaze by 10.30am.

The adjoining house has also been damaged by the fire.

A fire spokeswoman said: “We were alerted at 8.03am on Thursday, January 19, to reports of a dwelling fire on Twinning Link, Forres.

“Operations Control mobilised a total of eight fire appliances including specialist resources, and firefighters currently remain in attendance.”

Crews remain at the scene, and the road between Vienenburg Avenue and Grant Road West is still closed.

The roof has been severely damaged by the flames and the windows have all been destroyed. Image: Jasperimage

‘A lot of flames and a lot of smoke’

One resident said she was putting her bins out at about 8am and noticed “loads of fire trucks outside” and as well as “a lot of flames and a lot of smoke”.

Another resident described “huge flames” out the back of the property and “billowing black smoke”.

She woke up to flashing blue lights and lots of noises outside her window and said she “very scared”.

The gutters have been melted by the blaze and crews are still inspecting the smoldering roof. Image: Jasperimage

There was a lot of commotion but she says residents remained in their homes while crews dealt with the fire.

She “felt really bad and quite emotional” for the family who lives in the house.

Another resident said one fire appliance was on the scene and managed to contain the fire at the front of the property until back-up arrived to tackle the flames at the rear.

He said: “I came out and could fire coming out the top back window and the flames were hitting the gutter.

“I couldn’t really see any smoke because it was snowing at the time.”

‘Thankfully tenants are unharmed’

Grampian Housing Association said the cause of the fire is not yet known, but teams will be working with the fire service in their investigations.

A spokeswoman for the social housing association said finding new accommodation for those affected will be the priority.

She said: “We can confirm that this morning’s fire was in a Grampian Housing Association property but thankfully the tenants are unharmed having been taken to the hospital as a precaution.

“We take the health and safety of our tenants extremely seriously. While the cause of the fire is not yet known we will be working with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

“Our priority is to secure alternative accommodation for the tenants affected by this incident.”