Or kill someone
a building near St Mirren’s SMiSA Stadium.
Firefighters were called out at lunchtime to attend the incident and mobilised four fire engines to tackle the well-developed blaze which had taken hold.
One man, who wanted to remain anonymous for fear of repercussions, said he was afraid someone would be killed and joined a chorus of calls for the houses to be demolished as a matter of urgency.
“Fires in these buildings are becoming a regular occurrence,” he said. “It is the highest waste of police and fire service resources.
“It is sheer idiocy, fortunately no one has been injured in the fires yet, but it is only a matter of time before they reach an innocent soul and leave them badly injured or worse – cause a fatality.
“And that’s the cold hard truth, these fires could kill someone and they are being set deliberately almost every week.
“And they aren’t just small fires, they are huge, they are taking over full buildings with smoke taking over the skyline and burning for hours. It is so dangerous.”
While the fires are being set alight in the derelict homes, some are being set just yards from newlybuilt homes in Ferguslie.
More than 100 new houses were built on the former St Fergus’ Primary School site, with homes on Tannahill Grove just yards from the flames.
Councillor Kenny MacLaren has slammed the recent fire and is making calls for increased security in the area.
He said: “I believe the contract for the firm to demolish the remaining empty buildings is in progress and they should be coming down relatively soon.
“However, when the plan to move residents into the new houses on the site of the former St Fergus School, councillors were told by housing officers that there would be security in place at the Tannahill site.
“It looks like this is insufficient with the increase in fire raising in the area. I’ll be contacting the relevant council officers to stress the importance of securing these buildings and the area to ensure no other fires take place.”
The area has been earmarked for demolition with Renfrewshire Council saying at the end of last year that a contractor was being sought to tear down the remaining homes on Drums Avenue, Ferguslie Park Avenue, Tannahill Road and Tannahill Terrace.
Many of the properties – which previously housed the residents of the new build homes on the site of the former St Fergus Primary School – have lain empty for up to eight years.
It is understood the planned demolition works will go to the leadership board for approval in June, with an ambition to start the works in mid to late summer.
A Renfrewshire Council spokesperson said: “We are currently out to tender for the demolition of the remaining 51 empty housing blocks in the Tannahill regeneration area following the successful construction of 101 newbuild homes on the site of the former St Fergus Primary School.
“Works to demolish the empty properties are subject to an ongoing procurement exercise with commencement of the contract anticipated for the summer months subject to approval by members of the finance, resources and customer service policy board.
“We continue to monitor the situation along with our partners in Police Scotland and Fire Scotland.”
Police Scotland has been approached for comment.