£10,000 reward in hunt for firebugs
A £10,000 reward has been offered for information to help catch firebugs who torched a Paisley substation - leaving thousands of homes without power.
The inferno at the Montrose Road substation at midnight on Monday started after a wheelie bin was set alight and positioned next to the electrical unit.
It caused £ 50,000 worth of damage at the substation, resulting in around 1,800 homes being without power for up to an hour, while some 85 properties were without power for almost nine hours.
Bosses at SP Energy Network have branded the crime “malicious and foolish” and are urging anyone who may have information to come forward.
Guy Jefferson, customer service director, SP Energy Networks, said: “The fact we’re putting up such a big reward shows how seriously we’re treating this incident .”
A £10,000 reward is being offered in a bid to trace yobs who torched a substation which left thousands of Paisley homes without power.
More than £50,000 of damage was caused to the electrical unit on Montrose Road when it was deliberately set alight on Monday night.
Almost 2,000 homes were left in darkness for hours as technicians from SP Energy Networks tried to control the damage.
Now, bosses from the electricity giant are offering the reward to anyone who has information to help catch those responsible for the “malicious and completely pointless act”.
Guy Jefferson, customer service director of SP Energy Networks, said: “This was a foolish and dangerous crime that could have put lives at risk and we’re committed to working with the police to find those responsible.
“It was a calculated, malicious and completely pointless act that caused problems for many people in the local area – including some of the most vulnerable in our society – and we can only be thankful no one was hurt as a result.
“The fact we’re putting up such a big reward shows how seriously we’re treating this incident and I’ve no doubt the people of Foxbar will welcome our approach.
“I hope the chance to get their hands on £10,000 encourages those who know something to come forward with the information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the individuals responsible. I look forward to seeing a positive response from the public.”
Firefighters rushed to the street in Foxbar following reports of a wheelie bin on fire.
The blaze quickly spread to the substation, causing an inferno which left it completely destroyed.
A total of 1,8000 homes were left with no power for up to an hour, while 85 remained without power until 10am.
Nearby Montrose Care Home was also left without any power, and SP Energy Networks had to supply a generator until it could be restored.
Repair works are currently taking place at the substation to repair the extensive damage caused.
Paisley CID is appealing to anyone with information to come forward.
Detective Ian Ross, of Paisley CID, said: “This was a very dangerous act which could have endangered lives and which caused widespread disruption to the electricity supply.
“We are very keen to establish who was responsible for setting the fire and would appeal to any potential witnesses to come forward.”