The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Blaze which gutted Silverburn House believed deliberate
Leven: Fears voiced that empty buildings across area are a magnet for vandals
A blaze which destroyed Silverburn House in Leven was probably started deliberately, initial investigations have suggested.
Flames shot through the roof of the derelict former family home a fortnight ago as firefighters spent several hours battling to bring the fire under control.
Fife Council’s Levenmouth area manager Dave Paterson said: “At the moment our understanding is it was a deliberate fire.
“There are no services in the house so there is no reason why it should have combusted by itself.
“Initial inspections were carried out last Thursday and we will wait for a full fire report before we make a decision.
“To let you understand the extent of the damage, 80% of the roof has fallen in.”
Calls have been made to demolish the abandoned Threeways Inn in Leven amid fears it may suffer a similar fate.
Labour councillor Colin Davidson voiced serious concerns about the number of empty buildings across Levenmouth.
He said firefighters are put in danger by having to deal with such fires.
“Buildings are being left empty for too long and they are becoming a magnet for vandals.”
SNP councillor John O’Brien said: “These unattended buildings are our heritage and they are at risk.
“We’ve lost Denbeath Club and now Silverburn.
“Action has to be taken and development has to be done a lot quicker.”
Fife Council has previously indicated the fire at Silverburn will not affect plans to transform the 27-acre park, with the creation of a campsite, hostel and meeting rooms all still on the cards.
A fence has been erected around the house, which was boarded up for more than 20 years and has now has been declared unsafe.
The fire was declared a major incident by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, which sent 11 appliances to the scene.
There are no services in the house, so there is no reason why it should have combusted by itself. DAVE PATERSON