A PENSIONER has died and an 89-year-old woman was taken to hospital following an early-morning house fire in the Silverton area of Dumbarton.

It’s understood the fire started just before 1am on Saturday at a property on Smollett Road.

Despite frantic efforts from firefighters to administer CPR the victim, aged 66, was pronounced dead at the scene.

In addition, an 89 year-old woman from a neighbouring property was taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation.

A spokeswoman for Police Scotland said: “Emergency services were called to the scene at around 12.45am and a 66-year-old man was removed from the property but pronounced dead.

“Firefighters have since extinguished the fire and an 89-year-old woman from a neighbouring property was taken to the Royal Alexandra Hospital suffering from smoke inhalation.”

She added: “A joint investigation is now being carried out to determine the cause.”

Yesterday, a spokesman for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said: “The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service was alerted at 12.44am on Saturday, November 4 to reports of a house fire.“Operations Control immediately mobilised four appliances to Smollett Road in Dumbarton.“Firefighters very quickly located and removed a male casualty from the property.

“They administered CPR until the Scottish Ambulance Service arrived but sadly the man died at the scene. A female was also treated for smoke inhalation and taken to hospital as a precautionary measure.

“The fire was quickly extinguished using powerful water jets.

“A joint investigation with Police Scotland is presently under way to establish the circumstances of the fire.”

David McBride, ward councillor for Dumbarton, was among the first to express his shock at the weekend tragedy.

He told the Reporter: “The whole community was saddened to hear of the dreadful fire in Smollett Street early on Saturday morning.

“While I understand the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service was quickly on the scene and extinguished the fire, the resident had sadly died.

“I would like to offer my sincere condolences and my thanks to the responding fire and police officers.”

Fellow Dumbarton ward councillor Iain McLaren added: "My thoughts and sympathy go out to the victim’s family at this time, and I’d like to give my thanks to the emergency services who attended."