Perth fire: Two sisters and ‘loving father’ killed in blaze at hotel as investigation continues

Family pays tribute to ‘greatly missed’ parent killed in ‘heart-breaking’ circumstances in Perth

Two sisters and a “loving father” were the victims of a fire at a hotel in Scotland this week, police have said.

Emergency services rushed to Perth’s New County Hotel just after 5am on the second day of the new year, with more 60 firefighters working to extinghuish the blaze at the height of what they described as a “very complex incident”.

The three people reported to have been pronounced dead at the scene have now been named by Police Scotland.

Donna Janse Van Rensburg (left), 44, and Sharon McLean, 47, died after the fire at the New County Hotel (Police Scotland/PA Wire)

Two of the deceased are sisters Donna Janse Van Rensburg and Sharon McLean, aged 44 and 47, both from Aberdeen.

Keith Russell, a 38-year-old originally from Edinburgh, also lost his life. His family said: “Keith was a loving father and loved by all his family. He will be greatly missed.”

Both families have asked for privacy, and an investigation has been launched into the fire at the two-storey hotel, which is situated in Perth city centre.

Guests and two people living in a nearby block of flats were evacuated. Eleven people were treated at the scene but did not require hospital treatment

Ms Van Rensburg’s pet dog Joey, a three-year-old King Charles spaniel, was also killed in the fire.

Keith Russell, aged 38, was described as a ‘loving father’ who ‘will be greatly missed' (Police Scotland/PA Wire)

Scotland’s deputy first minister John Swinney described the incident as “heart-breaking”, and Perth and Kinross provost Xander McDade said: “This tragic incident is not the way any of us would want to see 2023 begin and my heartfelt condolences go to everyone impacted by this fire.”

Investigators will send a report to the Procurator Fiscal, the public prosecutors who investigate fatal accidents and other deaths in Scotland.

“Our thoughts continue to be with the family and friends of those who died as well as the many people affected by this incident,” said Chief Superintendent Phil Davison.

Emergency services at the scene at the New County Hotel (PA)

“A joint investigation with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service is ongoing and a report will be sent to the Procurator Fiscal. I would like to again thank all the emergency services and partner agencies involved as well as the local community for their patience while enquiries are carried out.”

Jason Sharp, area commander for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, described the incident as a very “complex” one, saying: “Our firefighters worked extremely hard in a very complex and challenging environment to prevent the further spread of fire and damage where possible.”