Cameron House: Lessons will be learned, says Sturgeon

Nicola Sturgeon gave the assurance in the wake of the blaze at the five-star resort on the banks of Loch Lomond on Monday.

Guests Simon Midgley, 32, and Richard Dyson, 38, died in the blaze while couple Andrew and Louise Logan were taken to hospital with their baby son but were later released.

Their son Jimmy was rescued by a firefighter who cradled the baby to safety from a second-floor window.

Dumbarton MSP Jackie Baillie was reduced to tears as she raised the tragedy in the Holyrood Chamber during First Minister’s Questions.

Baillie sent her condolences to the families of Mr Midgley and Mr Dyson and praised the emergency services for their actions.

She said: “The investigation has yet to start because the building needs to be made safe but can I ask the First Minister, when the investigation is complete, will she ensure that lessons are learned, whether that’s in practice or if there is indeed a need to enhance building standards regulations?”

Blaze: The hotel was severely damaged on Monday. STV News

Sturgeon responded: “I want, today, to convey my deepest condolences to the families of the two young men who died and send my thoughts to all of those who were affected by this tragedy.

“This horrific event demonstrates once again how our firefighters so willingly put themselves in the line of danger to assist others on a daily basis and I know the whole Chamber will want to send our grateful thanks to our firefighters and to all of our emergency services who responded.

“Of course there will be a thorough investigation into what happened at Cameron House and it is important that that investigation is allowed to run its course but I can give an assurance today that the Scottish Government, with our partners and indeed with the owners of Cameron House hotel, will make sure that any lessons that emerge from that investigation are learned and fully applied.”

More than 70 firefighters fought the early morning blaze at the resort, which caused significant damage to the hotel roof.

One of the men died at the scene and the other died at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley.