Firefighters at Johnstone Station arrived four minutes after receiving 999 calls at around 12.45pm from frantic members of the public who spotted the blaze.

They reported smoke coming from the first and second floors of a three storey tenement on Neilston Road today (Friday).

The fire is believed to have started accidentally when a cigarette ignited a couch.

Watch Manager Niall Macleod, the incident commander, said: “Four firefighters in breathing apparatus searched the affected flat and confirmed no-one else was inside the property. They used a single line of hose to extinguish a fire within the living room.

“Our crews performed exceptionally well and their effective response successfully prevented the flames from spreading to other rooms, causing significant damage to the building and endangering people in neighbouring properties.

“Both the flat and the communal stairwell were smoke logged so a pressure fan was used to ventilate the building.”