Paisley Buddies are being urged “to stand up for their area” and name those responsible for countless fires in the derelict Tannahill estate.
Councillor Kenny MacLaren has asked locals to be courageous and hand over those who are putting people’s lives at risk by repeatedly setting fires in abandoned homes. The call comes just hours after three properties on Tannahill Road were set alight.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) sent seven appliances and a height vehicle to the Paisley street at 10.55pm on Sunday night and spent several hours dousing the flames. Police Scotland has since confirmed the blaze was deliberate.
Stating “someone must know” who is setting these fires, Councillor MacLaren has urged those people to do the right thing for their community.
The Ferguslie representative said: “Someone must know who it is, it’s happening all too regularly for them to go completely unnoticed.
“I seriously urge them to call the police or even Crimestoppers, should they wish to remain anonymous. Until they are stopped, people’s lives will continue to be put at risk.
“Even if they think these are just empty houses, they are potentially preventing the fire service from attending another more serious call out. They need to be caught, sentenced and face serious jail time.”
He added: “I am asking people, stand up for your area, rather than sit back and watch this nightmare unfold.”
The properties sit within a number of houses which have been earmarked for demolition for years.
The site – which includes Drums Avenue, Ferguslie Park Avenue, Tannahill Road and Tannahill Terrace – has been ravaged by fire and fly-tipping for years.
Contractor Caskie has been charged with razing the estate to the ground and has erected fencing and upped security of the site since embarking on the project in July.
Councillor MacLaren added: “The security patrols were meant to be increasing but no matter what fencing and security measures you have in place, if someone is determined to get in and burn something down, they will find a way. The blame for this lies solely with those who are setting the fires repeatedly.”
A spokesperson for SFRS told the Paisley Daily Express they were retaining a presence at the scene yesterday afternoon. They said: “We were alerted at 10.55pm on Sunday, November 3 to reports of a derelict building on fire at Tannahill Road, Paisley.
“Operations Control mobilised seven fire appliances and one height vehicle to the area where a fire was affecting three derelict buildings. There were no reported casualties. Two fire appliances are currently still at the scene.”
Police Scotland said the fire is being “treated as wilful” and “enquiries are ongoing”. A spokesperson for Renfrewshire Council said yesterday: “We have increased security measures and are working with Police Scotland and SFRS following the recent fire-raising incidents in Tannahill.”
Meanwhile, people can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 with information.
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