I have today been in touch with City Council officials about security on the Harris Academy Perth Road site following a fire at the school site which is currently subject to demolition in preparation for the building of the new Harris Academy.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service today advised me:
“The fire started in a classroom on the first floor and spread to the room above through an open duct. Due the FRS actions and the concrete and brick construction the fire was contained to those rooms. We are of the opinion that the fire was started deliberately, probably by youths. There were still wooden fixtures and fittings within the classrooms, which allowed the fire to develop.
Given that the building is in the process of being demolished the only access for fire appliances was to the rear, this required us to ask for additional resources to provide water from the hydrant at the front of the building.”
I have contacted the City Council's Chief Executive and the officer in charge of the school building programme about security on the site. This fire follows on from a recent attempt at the theft of copper from the site and I have sought assurances that the site is being properly secured.
I have also been in touch with the police regarding this unfortunate incident.
I was interviewed by both Radio Tay and Wave 102 News about the matter this morning. You can listen to the Wave 102 interview by clicking 'play' below: