Triple arson attack hits Borders farms
DEVASTATION has hit three Scottish Borders farms around the village of Stow following suspected arson attacks. The most recent report occurred at Stagehall Farm on Monday, March 18 at 11.30pm.
This incident follows two other individual reports just off Earlston Road, east of Stow, dated March 5 and 17.
A further arson attack at a local community woodland has also been reported to police.
Two hundred bales were destroyed at Stagehall Farm, half a mile west of the village, on Monday night.
Farmer Nigel Millar first heard about the incident from a neighbour. He said: “They noticed the flames starting to rise at around 11.30pm, raising the alarm to wake us up and help shift cattle out of the smoke-filled courts next to the hay barn.”
The cattle were unharmed by the fire which originated in the lean-to joining the cattle courts, where the hay bales were destroyed.
Mr Millar added that ‘the response from the police and fire services was incredible’, recalling that the fire crew from Galashiels and Lauder were on the scene within 10 minutes.
“Had it not been for my neighbour, the consequences could have been catastrophic.”
Crews worked through the night until 5am to smoulder the fire due to hazardous materials from the 1970s shed such as fibrous cement and asbestos.
Mr Millar said: “Fire crews looked at the pattern of the flames as a line across the front of the building, indicating that an accelerant may have been used such as petrol. However, this is difficult to determine.”
A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “We were alerted at 11.43pm on Monday, March 18 to reports of a farm building on fire in Stow within the Scottish Borders.
“Operations Control initially mobilised two appliances to the scene then increased to four appliances.
“On arrival firefighters found a barn filled with hay bales well alight.
“No casualties were reported, and crews left the scene after ensuring the area was made safe.”
Detective constable of CID Louise Begley said: “This is the third report of a suspicious fire in the area recently where hay bales have been destroyed.”
This incident relates to prior attacks on two nearby farms located on Earlston Road, on the east side of the village, on Tuesday, March 5 where a suspected 60 hay bales were destroyed, and on Sunday, March 17 when 90 hay bales were ruined.
Ms Begley added: “We are carrying out inquiries in the village and reviewing CCTV to find the person or people responsible.
“I would ask residents to check their private CCTV and motorists to check dashcam footage to see if you have captured anything that could assist our investigations.”