Blaze put lives at risk

Published 30 Jun 2010 13:33

By Rosalyn Campbell

A CALLOUS neighbour failed to warn other residents when the roof of a block of flats became engulfed in flames - it has been claimed.

Pensioners and children were among those asleep in the early hours of the morning when a fire ripped through their building's roof.

But a 38-year-old man - who allegedly used heat lamps to grow cannabis that may have triggered the blaze - fled the three-storey building without alerting his neighbours.

The residents were lucky to escape thanks to a dog jumping on its owner's bed after hearing the commotion and waking her up.

Gayle Quinn ran outside in her nightclothes, knocking and buzzing on her neighbours' doors as she went.

She said she was absolutely shocked at the man's behaviour - and what its consequences could have been.

She said: "He didn't wake up any of the neighbours - he just passed them by and went outside himself.

"It's gobsmacked me more than anything else - to think that anyone is capable of that, let alone someone you know.

"The fact that he passed by five flats, people with kids, and pensioners, and didn't buzz the doors.

"I woke up first when my dog jumped on my bed and I alerted the rest of the neighbours.

"There's pensioners next door so they wouldn't have heard anything.

"He was out there fully clothed, but we had to all run out in our nightclothes.

"Only 15 minutes after we were out, the roof was out."

She added: "He's got to pay for what he's done, as much as I've known him for over seven years."

The roof of the building at 28 Abbey Road, Elderslie , is a burnt-out shell after the blaze - which police say may have started because of 'cannabis cultivation' in the loft space.

They said that cannabis and special gear used to grow it had been found at the scene.

More than 30 firefighters, some wearing breathing masks, fought the flames for over three hours - with fire engines from Johnstone, Paisley, Clydebank, Govan and Pollok attending the scene.

They rushed over after receiving a call just before 4am on Tuesday June 22 - and did not leave the scene until three in the afternoon, although the fire had been scaled down by 7.30am.

Residents who have had to evacuate the flats are now staying with relatives and friends.

A Strathclyde Police spokesperson said that enquiries into the incident were still ongoing.

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