FIRE chiefs are warning developers to increase security at building sites left mothballed by the credit crunch.
Local fire safety officers at Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service are being asked to draw up a list of building sites in their area which they feel may be at risk.
They are to visit all building sites to ensure that developers are taking t
he necessary security precautions to stop malicious fires, while firefighters are to give talks to schools to ensure children are aware of the danger of playing on building sites.
Already this year there have been three serious building site fires in the city, and while no-one has been hurt, the fires have caused millions of pounds worth of damage.
More than 40 firefighters recently spent eight hours tackling a ferocious blaze at a building site in Firrhill Drive, Oxgangs.
Police have confirmed that they are treating the blaze as suspicious and have launched an appeal for witnesses.
In May a six-storey block of flats on a construction site at Waterfront Gait was gutted by fire, with local residents reporting a "huge, flaming fireball".
And in April more than 80 firefighters were needed to tackle a blaze which tore through a block of flats under construction on Hawkhill Close, just yards from Easter Road Stadium.
David Mallin, the head of community safety with Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service, said there was often a rise in building site fires in times of recession.
"It is a fact that in an economic downturn we can see an increase in these types of fires, and whether that is because there are more vacant building sites, which are a high risk, or because of an element of fraud is impossible to say, but we want to ensure developers are doing everything they can to protect these sites from fire," he said.
"The nature of building sites means that if there is a fire it will be very dangerous, and so we also want to make sure parents are telling their children not to play on empty building sites, because if there was a fire it could be potentially very serious.
"The recent fire at Oxgangs showed just how fierce these fires are, and in that situation, if anyone was trapped on the site, it would be difficult for us as the danger of collapse means we cannot easily send in firefighters."
The safety call was backed by the police, who encouraged members of the public to report any suspicious activity at building sites.
"We would always encourage business owners to ensure their premises are adequately secured," said a spokesman.
"Appropriate security measures such as CCTV, alarm systems and sturdy fencing prevent theft and damage to these sites, as well as stopping individuals putting both themselves and the public at risk by starting fires within.
"Anyone who sees any suspicious behaviour at a building site, or any other property, should contact police immediately."
The full article contains 502 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
