A devastating fire at a former care home in Dalmuir is being treated as deliberate, according to police.
Emergency services rushed to the scene of the blaze at Frank Downie House on Ottawa Crescent on Saturday, August 6, at around 9.30pm.
Fire service crews have cordoned off the surrounding area as six appliances were on the scene to tackle the inferno, whilst council officers evacuated residents from nearby homes to Clydemuir Primary school.
Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) has confirmed there were no injuries as a result of the incident.
However, Police Scotland confirmed the blaze is being treated as wilful and officers have launched an investigation jointly with SFRS into the fire.
Detective Constable Lydia Nellis, of Clydebank Police Station, said: "Police Scotland and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service continue to deal with a fire at a derelict building in Clydebank.
"Shortly after 9.45pm last night Saturday, 6 August 2022, the fire was reported at Frank Downie House in Ottawa Crescent.
"A number of roads in the area remain closed and a small number of residents close to the fire have been evacuated as a precaution. The public should continue to avoid the area.
"There are no reports of any injuries.
"A joint Police Scotland and Scottish Fire and Rescue Service investigation will take place to establish the cause of the fire.
"Anyone with information about how the fire may have started should contact Police Scotland on 101 quoting incident 3831 of August, 6."
Meanwhile, Councillor Martin Rooney, leader of West Dunbartonshire Council has since praised the efforts of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Police Scotland and council employees who were on the scene.
Nearby Clydemuir Primary School was opened by staff to act as an evacuation centre for residents who had been asked to leave their homes. It remained open as a rest centre for blue light response teams until 5am on Monday.
Councillor Rooney said: “This was a major fire and, had it not been for the swift actions of emergency services, could have devastated the homes and lives of the residents whose properties are in close proximity to the site.
"Our council staff go above and beyond for residents in West Dunbartonshire on a daily basis and their response to support residents affected by this fire is a shining example of this.
“The Neighbourhood Team were on site within minutes and played a key role in keeping residents updated and supporting police, and were quickly joined by colleagues from Care at Home, education, facilities management, homelessness, and our resilience staff.
"We had staff there until the early hours of the morning and back on site again on Sunday to offer support.
“I also know a number of employees who live in the surrounding area attended on Saturday night and offered to help in any way they could.
"I want to thank each of them for everything they did over the weekend to ensure residents in Dalmuir were supported and reassured.”
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