Fire crews under attack as they fight old school blaze

Published on Thursday 22 July 2010 08:50

FIRE crews came under attack as they battled a massive blaze at a disused city high school last night.

Police are investigating after eight lengths of hose were slashed as firefighters tried to put out the fire, which is being treated as suspicious, at the old Craigroyston Community High School on Pennywell Road, which broke out at 8.30pm.

A fire officer's car tyre was also slashed during the incident.

The old building, which has been empty since pupils moved into the new school last summer, was engulfed in 30ft flames as the fire took hold.

Asbestos was discovered on the site back in 2007 by contractors employed to clear the site, sparking further fears about the fire.

It took more than 50 firefighters three-and-a-half hours to get the fire under control, with eight fire engines and two height appliances used by crews, while the police and ambulance service were also in attendance.

Fire investigators are trying to establish the cause of the blaze and crews were still at the scene this morning.

Eyewitness Michael Lindsay, who lives on Muirhouse Terrace, said: "I was sitting in my house and had the windows open and I could smell the smoke. I looked outside and I could see the smoke piling out of the building.

"There were no flames at first, but then it became engulfed and the flames were about 30ft high over the old science block. Lots of locals came out to watch."

Another local resident, Alistair McPhail, 48, said battling the fire was "like trying to hold back the tide because the flames were shooting right up past the roof".

Forth councillor Cammy Day was driving past the school, which was set to be demolished, when the fire broke out.

He said he warned education bosses that this would happen if the building was left derelict over the summer holidays. He said: "It's exactly what I said would happen. I told the council if that school was left over the holidays, it will be burned down. I knew the school had asbestos so I told the firefighters about it.

"There were flames licking the back wing of the building.

"Lots of people were out looking at it, and lots of kids were there."

A spokeswoman for the fire service said: "It was a large blaze in a number of buildings including single-storey and three-storey buildings at the old Craigroyston High School.

"Eight lengths of hoses were slashed. That slowed down the process of tackling the fire. The consequences could have been much more serious. This kind of act is unacceptable."

The fire investigation team are carrying out enquiries.

A police spokesman said: "An investigation is under way. We are appealing for anyone who witnessed any suspicious activity, to contact police.".