Wheelie bin fires – “Could have grave consequences”
Fire crews were called to a fire in a Perthshire Village after several wheelie bins were set on fire at the rear of two houses.
The situation was under control within minutes using a hose to extinguish flames but police said that these kind of fires could have grave consequences.
A spokesperson for Tayside Police said: “We get reports of this sort of thing from time to time, but this is the first incident like this we’ve had in Bankfoot. Generally speaking, it’s wanton vandalism and creates unnecessary work for fire fighters but obviously it also has potentially dangerous consequences as someone could end up getting seriously hurt or worse.”
In 2011, police launched an investigation after torched wheelie bins sparked a blaze that almost destroyed a conservatory and left an elderly Perth resident traumatised.
Fortunately, the woman who was reading in bed, smelled smoke and raised the alarm in time.
“It must have been about midnight when I smelled something strange,” said the terrified OAP. I walked through the house thinking, ‘something’s not right’, and when I got to the conservatory, I saw a glow in the window. So I opened the blinds and got the shock of my life – my rubbish bins had been burnt to a cinder and the flames had caught hold of the conservatory itself. The firefighters told me that the whole house could have gone up, so what would have happened to me if I’d taken my sleeping pills that night? And when I have house guests, they sleep in the conservatory, so they could have been overcome with smoke and fumes. God knows what could have happened really.”
10 year old boy charged with criminal damage after arson attack
A 10 year old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was charged with criminal damage after causing £100,000 worth of damage at a college chapel.
The boy is one of the youngest people in Plymouth to have a criminal record.
Two older boys were given 12-month Youth Referral Orders and put on three-month curfews. Their families were each ordered to pay £1,000 compensation.
The boy admitted going into the chapel and setting light to tissue paper and setting ‘matchbombs’ – firecrackers made from match heads and a matchbox. He also admitted criminal damage to a fire extinguisher in the build-up to the blaze.
The boy’s father said: “He was with the wrong people at the wrong time. It is no excuse. We have tried to bring him up to do the right thing, but he has done a big wrong. He has suffered and we have suffered. Hopefully this will be the last time you see him in front of a court. This has been a big learning curve. We feel sorry for everyone involved. It has been an absolute nightmare for us, it really has.”
Presiding magistrate, Mr David Watson said: “You realise what a serious offence this is and the pain you have caused to your parents and a lot of other people. It is good to hear your parents do not want to see you back in court. Take what has been offered to you and learn from it and let’s hope we never see you again.”
Mitcham warehouse fire – Arson suspected
A fire which tore through a warehouse in Mitcham, is thought to have been started deliberately.
10 engines and around 50 firefighters were called to the fire at the Federal Express warehouse in Mitcham Industrial Estate, St James Road, at 4.45am on 13th February.
A spokesperson for the London Fire Brigade said: “Around half of the first floor and part of the roof are on fire in the warehouse and offices.”
Paddington fire station manager, John Lalor said: “The initial crews were greeted by quite a fierce fire. They did really well to contain it to just the damage on the first floor. A security guard was here to allow them to enter from the ground floor. They used breathing apparatus and a thermal imaging camera and, as is usual in these situations, they had to crawl on their bellies while they navigated the building. “
An investigation is now being carried out to determine the exact cause of the fire.
Arson attack destroys Royal British Legion Club
The former Royal British Legion Club, in Penhill was severely damaged in a suspected arson attack on 10th February.
12 firefighters and 4 fire engines from Swindon Stratton attended the blaze in Downton Road at about 5.10am.
Royal British Legion members had voted to close the building 2 years ago due to financial problems but it was thought that the building could be used in some way by the local community.
Tim O’Sullivan who is a member of the Royal British Legion and keyholder of the venue, said: “We have already had several phone calls from people who are upset. At the end of the day, if anybody was to do anything with the building, there’s a lot of damage that’s been done in there by the fire so it’s more money to be spent before the doors could ever be opened. That’s the problem. Who is going to spend tens and tens of thousands of pounds to open a place? It could take them a long time to get their investment back. The Royal British Legion is a charity and they’re going to have to come and pay thousands of pounds more to get the place secured, otherwise the place might end up on fire again tonight.”
Local resident, Matthew Emery witnessed the fire and said: “I came past at eight o’clock this morning and there was a fire engine still here – the building was still smouldering. By all accounts, there were five fire engines but I only saw one when I came past. I’m not surprised the building was on fire. It’s been waiting to happen. I think if you leave a building long enough, it’s going to get damaged.”
An investigation into the cause of the fire is now being carried out by police.
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