PIGEON FANCIERS were left devastated last night when more than 50 racing birds were destroyed when fire raged through three lofts on Dundee Law.
Flames could be seen for several miles around as the pigeon lofts owned by members of the local pigeon fanciers club were set alight, it is thought, by young vandals.
Firefighters arrived to find the lofts well alight at 5pm and, suspecting gas canisters were inside the sheds, police set up a cordon around the area.
However, only an empty propane canister was housed inside the premises, the fire service said.
Loft owner Jake Brown said around 52 birds were killed, out of around 80 which were housed in a single loft owned by one of his fellow fanciers.
“It’s a nightmare. I didn’t think we would be able to save any but we managed to save 28 birds. There were about 80 in that shed and it was burnt to the ground,” he said.
“The police said kids had got into an empty loft at the bottom of the allotments and set it alight and it spread to the next one.
“The owner is an elderly man and he’s won prizes with his pigeons. They’re all racing pigeons and we’re members of the Law Hill Pigeon Club.
“We’ve been together since 1978 and we’ve never had anything like this before. You get the odd break-in and they steal tea and coffee but never a fire like this.
“It’s all pensioners and people on invalidity who have the lofts. We spend all our time and money on the pigeons so it’s terrible that kids just come in and do this.
“It’s just lucky it wasn’t an east wind or the other lofts would’ve all been burned as well.
“I was there from the back of five and just got home at 9 o’clock.
“We’ve been after the council to put a fence up for the past two years but they’ve done nothing.”
Three appliances with 18 firefighters from Macalpine Road and Kingsway were in attendance and were joined by a command support unit from Blackness Road, but it was not required.
Firefighters used two jets and a ground monitor to extinguish the blaze, which took around 40 minutes, but firefighters remained at the scene for a few hours, damping down.
Station manager Graeme Nicoll said: “We arrived to find the sheds well alight but we quickly managed to contain the blaze to three lofts.
“We didn’t think any of the birds would have survived but the ones that did were furthest away from the main seat.
“It’s an L-shaped building and we managed to save 28 birds and relocate them with the help of the loft owners.”
The cause of the fire was said to be under investigation but it is thought young vandals were to blame.
Tayside Police appealed for information following the fire.
A spokesperson said last night: “About 5pm this evening Tayside Police and Tayside Fire and Rescue attended a report of a fire on the Law, Dundee.
“On their arrival they found several sheds alight.
“Due to inflammable items within the premises, a cordon was put in place.
“The sheds were identified as pigeon lofts and a number of pigeons have died as a result of the fire.
“Tayside Police are making inquiries into the cause of the fire.
“If anyone noticed anything suspicious in the area during the relevant time or has information regarding the fire, they are asked to contact Tayside Police on 0300 111 2222 or speak to any police officer,” said the spokesperson.
awilson@thecourier.co.uk