Disabled Woman Trapped in Flat During Nearby Fire
The family of Susan McLaughlin, a disabled woman, have reported that she was left "trapped" inside her council flat during a fire due to the absence of a suitable emergency exit.
Susan McLaughlin, 44, who suffers from Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), and her husband, Frank, 47, remained inside their ground floor property in Dumbarton after a deliberate fire broke out in a nearby communal drying room.
With smoke filling the area outside their main door, Susan's condition prevented her from exiting through a window, forcing her to stay inside while fire crews worked to extinguish the flames.
West Dunbartonshire Council stated that the flat had previously been assessed as suitable for Susan but is currently liaising with the family to determine if her needs have changed.
One individual was taken to hospital due to the fire on Tuesday, while six others received treatment at the scene.
Neighbours assisted the couple by holding Susan's face toward an open window to help her breathe more easily as they waited for the fire to be extinguished.
The couple's daughter, Alysha McLean, has urged West Dunbartonshire Council to install an effective "escape point" for council tenants with disabilities to prevent similar situations in the future.
Alysha, 24, explained that her parents moved into the flat on Colquhoun Road with her younger brother Brandon, 20, in June 2023 due to her mother's mobility challenges.
Functional Neurological Disorder significantly impacts how the brain communicates with the body, causing symptoms such as chronic fatigue, limb weakness, and seizures.
Alysha described that Susan uses a wheelchair and has no functionality in one arm as a result of her condition.
She detailed that Frank opened the door shortly after being alerted to the fire by a neighbour but was met with a wall of smoke and flames spreading into the common close.
This situation left the only exit as a window in the living room, which Susan was unable to climb through.
At one point, a passing roofer attempted to assist her but was unable to extract her from the flat.
"People kept trying to lift her, but it just wasn't possible. She has no muscle tone in her arms and legs so she couldn't hold herself up to the window.
We had to sit with all the windows open in the house. Her neighbours were sitting on the other side holding her face towards the window for her."
Fire crews extinguished the fire and left the scene after approximately two hours.
Images show the common close covered by thick, black smoke damage, while the exterior of the four-storey block is also badly charred.
Brandon, who was in Glasgow City Centre when the fire started, stated that the blaze was caused by debris and abandoned items in the drying room being set alight.
Alysha mentioned that her parents are considering installing a "patio door" in place of the window to facilitate easier access in case of another fire.
She emphasized that the incident should serve as a warning to other council tenants in "disabled access homes" to ensure they have suitable emergency exit points in similar emergencies.
"Mum and dad are so shaken up. They are terrified to live in that flat in case it happens again.
We don't want this to turn into a slagging match with the council, because obviously it's not something that we pre-empted.
It's more of a warning for other councils and other disabled tenants, who have been put in flat for their mobility.
They have got a disabled access house - in reality they don't, if the front door is your only way of leaving the house. In a situation like this, you are totally in danger, you are totally trapped."
A spokeswoman for West Dunbartonshire Council confirmed that it has been in contact with tenants affected by the fire.
She added that Susan and Frank's flat will be reassessed for any necessary modifications.
She stated:
"This tenant's property, which meets fire safety regulations around access and egress, was assessed as suitable for her medical needs as they were presented to us in 2023.
We are in direct contact with the tenant to understand her evolving needs and will undertake any necessary assessments to ensure suitability going forward."
