Stairwell suffers four fires in a month

TERRIFIED residents have been left fearing for their lives after firebugs sparked four blazes in a common stairwell in as many weeks.

In the latest horror incident in Bingham Way, petrol was poured over the door of one flat and set alight.

Two people – a 40-year-old man and 35-year-old woman – had to be led to safety by firefighters before being treated in hospital.

Neighbours today said they had had enough of fires ripping through the block and that they were looking to move.

A communal rubbish chute has also been a target for 
fireraisers, with the most recent blaze coming two days after a locking mechanism on the main door of the tenement was ripped off.

In is understood that in the latest incident – which took place yesterday morning – a flammable liquid was poured through the letterbox of a 
top-floor flat.

One 34-year-old resident, who lives with her partner and three-year-old son, said the family was living in fear.

She said: “I’m terrified for both myself and my family. It’s been escalating for weeks, first it was fires in the bin chute now we have this.

“I was awoken by our fire alarm but as soon as I opened the door thick black smoke came flooding in. Luckily, the fire engines came quickly and got it under control.

“We are in fear of our lives and don’t know what’s going to happen any night. My wee one won’t go to sleep after it, he keeps imagining all the smoke again.

“The police told me that they think it was started 
deliberately.”

Other angry neighbours said the sick thugs were putting children’s lives at risk.

An elderly resident, who has lived in the property for two years, said: “It wasn’t always like this but in recent months it’s gotten very bad. I’ve lost count of the number of times the rubbish chutes have been set alight.

“Last week I woke up and heard what sounded like banging. When I stuck my head out the door I saw flames leaping from the chute.”

Fire chiefs have launched an investigation into the 
latest blaze, while the city council said the broken main door lock would be repaired this week.

A Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service spokeswoman said: “A fire investigation is under way to establish the cause of this blaze.”

Last December the News revealed how dad-of-two Shaun Ramsay, of Muirhouse Park, raced to wake his neighbours after fireraisers set a blaze in his stairwell.

Mr Ramsay told how that in the months leading up to the incident he repeatedly asked the council to fix the lock on his stair door.