A leading Tayside firefighter has called on the owners of derelict properties to make sure their buildings are secure after a spate of blazes in the past week.
Colin Grieve, local senior officer for Tayside, warned children can be tempted to play in unsecured buildings even though they risk serious injury or even death by doing so.
The call comes after a raging fire — which is not being treated as suspicious by police — broke out in the abandoned Forebank House near the Hilltown on Tuesday night and regularly targeted Strathmartine Hospital went up in flames on both Sunday and Tuesday.
In the past, both sites have been targeted by vandals.
Colin Grieve, Local Senior Officer for Perth & Kinross, Angus and Dundee, said: “We have found from experience that unoccupied buildings can be targeted by malicious fire-raising.
“We would urge the owners of derelict properties, wherever possible, to ensure that they are properly secured to help minimise risk such as unnecessary fires.
“Structures such as these have the potential to cause great risk to members of the public who are thinking of entering them for any reason.
“For younger people, these structures can appear to be an area for adventurous play, however the danger of harm is very real.
“Such activity is not only reckless and dangerous but can divert SFRS resources away from genuine emergencies.”
Strathmartine Hospital, located on the northern outskirts of Dundee, is currently the subject of plans to build luxury apartments worth £50m.
Since 2003, fires have consistently occurred in various parts of the building, with police confirming that many were intentional.
Karin McAuley, a leading campaigner to have the site better protected, believes two fires in quick succession highlights the need for the development to move forward.
Karin, who believes the latest fires are intentional, said: “For two fires to occur so soon after each other is quite surprising really. Even for Strathmartine Hospital, it is a little worrying.
“I think these people are determined to gain access because, on the whole, it is quite secure.
“I have been involved in the hospital for 12 years now and this does seem to be a yearly thing around this time.
“There hasn’t been much movement on the planning front but what needs to happen is for the plan for them to go ahead. As soon as the handover takes place it will be more secure.”
Meanwhile, Councillor Jimmy Black yesterday called on Dundee City Council to make a compulsory purchase order on Forebank House amid fears a death may occur on the site.
