An investigation is underway after a fire was deliberately started last night near a petrol station in Renfrewshire.
The incident has today been branded a “reckless and dangerous act” by one local councillor.
It happened behind the Morrisons supermarket garage in Johnstone around 8pm.
A security guard at the petrol station was notified of the blaze engulfing a small patch of gorse and quickly got on the phone to the emergency services.
Fortunately, the blaze fizzled out by the time the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) arrived and nobody was hurt.
They’ve deemed the act to be deliberate and now police are appealing for information from any witnesses.
Police will also be deploying extra patrols in the area until the suspect is caught.
Johnstone councillor Andy Doig was astounded by the sheer stupidity of what went on and said: “I really question the sanity of those responsible for this reckless and dangerous act."
He continued: “The garage is adjacent to a large number of flats at Millbrae, and near the main route into Johnstone off the A737.
“The culprits really need to take a good look at themselves, and I strongly appeal to the public to give the police any information they may have to help apprehend them.”
A spokesperson from the Renfrewshire and Inverclyde Police Division said: “There was an incident of wilful fireraising which occurred at the back of Morrisons petrol station in Johnstone around 8pm on Wednesday, April 12.
“The security guard was alerted that a fire had been set at the rear of the petrol station. Emergency services attended and fire crews stated that the fire had fizzled out by the time they arrived. They’ve deemed it to be wilful.
“Enquiries are ongoing to identify the person responsible and extra patrols will be conducted in the area. Anybody who might have witnessed the incident is asked to contact police via 101 quoting incident number 3425 of April 12.”
A spokesperson for the SFRS added: “We were alerted at 8pm on Wednesday, April 12 to reports of a small fire in the open at Napier Street, Johnstone.
“Operations Control mobilised one fire appliance to the area where a fire had affected a small amount of gorse.
“The fire had been extinguished prior to the crews arrival and firefighters ensured the area was safe before leaving the scene.”
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