The father of three children who died at a flat fire in Paisley on Friday night has paid tribute to his “little angels”. Alex Gibson wrote on Facebook on Saturday afternoon: “May u rest in peace little angels.” Police are investigating the blaze, which broke out at the family’s first floor flat on Renfrew Road, Paisley – to the west of Glasgow – at about 9pm on Friday. Fiona Gibson, 12; Alexander James Gibson, eight; and five-year-old Philip Gibson were taken to the Queen Elizabeth university hospital in Glasgow, but died shortly after being admitted. Julie Daly, 39, the mother of the children, is in a critical condition at Paisley’s Royal Alexandra hospital. According to a Daily Record report, their father had gone out to the local garage and returned to find the flat ablaze. Neighbours in Gallowhill said firefighters had arrived on the scene within minutes and had tried to evacuate all four from the building. One said that Fiona, who was a pupil at Mary Russell school and the boys, who attended St Catherine’s primary, had been playing outside on a bouncy castle in recent days. “It was 8.50pm, that’s when I smelt the smoke,” the neighbour told the Mirror. “However my neighbour was having a bonfire and a drink in the garden, so I thought it was coming from there. “By the time I realised what was happening and got round there, the fire brigade was already there. I don’t know how to describe it, it was a raging fire, it was moving so quickly.” He added: “I could hear the firefighters shouting. One of the kids came out first and then an adult female. It was absolutely horrible. It’s such a tragedy.” Scotland’s first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, tweeted: “No words are enough. It’s just heartbreaking. My thoughts are with all who loved these poor children. Fiona, Alexander and Philip – may you rest in peace.” A spokeswoman for the Scottish fire and rescue service added: “We were called at 9pm on 19 June to reports of a dwelling on fire in Paisley. “Operation control mobilised six appliances to the town’s Renfrew Road where firefighters were met by a well-developed fire within a first floor property. Firefighters remain at the scene.” Scotland police said: “An investigation is under way to establish the exact circumstances of this incident.” Renfrewshire & Inverclyde police said officers were continuing enquiries and a report would be sent to the Procurator Fiscal. The damaged end-of-terrace property remained under police guard on Saturday afternoon.