A local authority has been accused of failing to comply with strict fire regulations at a block of flats at Fraserburgh.
Residents at North Braehead have raised concerns that there is no safe means of escape from their homes in the Aberdeenshire Council-owned complex, near the town centre.
After an assessment of the building, fireproofing specialist Fire Air Seal Scotland has now issued a strongly-worded call for action to local housing chiefs.
John Green, managing director of the Broch-based company, said the tenement block had no emergency lighting, signs, smoke alarms or anything to indicate an escape route.
The company plans to offer tenants free fire extinguishers until the council comes up with a better solution.
Mr Green said: “We service quite a lot of private-lease premises, where landlords are requested to maintain their properties (to) comply with fire regulations.
“Why should this be any different for Aberdeenshire Council?”
The flats were designed by the same architect who put together the plans for the now-demolished housing block at Peterhead’s St Peter Street.
Residents say the windows in the block are too narrow to push a mattress through for a safe landing in the case of a fire.
Alex Nicol, who lives on the top floor of the development, said he had been campaigning to have a fire escape fitted for the last 10 years.
“I’ve got nowhere with this fire escape issue and I'm doing this for everyone in the complex,” he said.
“If the downstairs front door is the only means of escape for many people, there’s no other option than jumping out of the windows.”
North Braehead is close to Kirk Brae where a fire, on Hogmanay 2006, killed two men.
Teenager Derek Youngson and his stepfather Derek Roy, 47, are believed to have died in a top-floor flat as they tried to escape.
Last week, police announced it would be launching a new investigation into the fire.
An Aberdeenshire Council spokesman said last night: “We are aware of concerns and our health and safety advisers have visited the properties to discuss these issues.
“We are now investigating the technical issues raised and will be responding accordingly as quickly as possible.”