Cops: church blaze started on purpose

Officers have confirmed that the inferno, which saw the roof of Lochee Old Parish Church collapse on Monday night, is being treated as suspicious.

And they are hot on the heels of those responsible, saying that they are following “positive lines of inquiry” in relation to the incident.

It comes after fire crews had to return to the building yesterday when it started smouldering again — nearly 48 hours after the fire started.

More than 30 firefighters tackled Monday’s blaze at its height, with residents in nearby flats evacuated.

The listed property, which had not been used for several years, was due to be converted into homes — and developers are now awaiting news on whether that project can still go ahead.

A police spokesman told the Tele today: “Police Scotland can confirm the initial investigation into the fire at the Lochee Parish Church on Monday is now under way. “The fire is being treated as suspicious, and positive lines of inquiry are being followed at this time.”

Firefighters spent about an hour at the church yesterday after locals reported seeing smoke emerging from the building.

A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokeswoman said: “One appliance was called out just after 6pm after reports of smouldering at the Lochee Old Parish Church.

“This was extinguished using a hose reel jet and there have been no further call-outs.”

Dan Multon, from property developer Edinburgh MI, said today he had been made aware of yesterday’s call-out and is now awaiting further news.

He told the Tele: “We’ve had a presence there every day since the fire.

“There’s been some smouldering in the building which we were informed about.

“We’ve been in daily communication with the emergency services and it’s up to them when they’re able to let us in.

“There’s still a risk of fire there so it’s a case of just waiting at the moment.

“We haven’t heard anything about the investigation so we have to just wait for them to tell us what’s next.”

The project to convert the church into new flats was set to be funded by a bank loan and a £300,000 grant from Dundee Historic Environment Trust.

POLICE were today hunting the firebugs who started a huge blaze at a Lochee church.

Emergency services were still in attendance the morning after the fire.

A firefighter at the church yesterday