Two teenagers appear in court over Keith blaze

Two teenagers have appeared at Elgin Sheriff Court in connection with a fire in two wheelie bins that caused a number of Keith residents to be evacuated from their homes.

A 62-year-old woman became ill during the evacuation and later died in hospital with her death being treated as “unexplained”.

18-year-olds Cameron Taylor and Rory Gray appeared in private at Elgin Sheriff Court on petition accused of wilful fireraising.

Neither made any plea and both were released on bail.

Police had detained Taylor and Gray during their investigations into the setting alight of two wheelie bins on Coopers Lane West in Keith at the junction with Mid Street in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Frances Smith was amongst residents who were evacuated form their homes as a precaution during the blaze, but she became ill and was taken to Dr Gray’s Hospital in Elgin where she later died.

Repairs at the scene were being undertaking on Monday by Scottish Gas engineers while several local businesses have remained closed since the fire.

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