FIREFIGHTERS in the Garnock Valley battled a blaze at a block of flats in Beith last Monday.

Appliances from Kilbirnie, Beith and Dalry Fire Stations raced to reports of a fire in the early hours of Monday morning.

On arrival, they discovered a fire in a common close area of a block of flats in Eglinton Street. The fire was extinguished by breathing apparatus teams using a high-pressure hose reel jet.

As a result of the fire a domestic gas box within the building was damaged.

Station Manager Derek Davidson warned of the dangers: “This was the second instance of what appears to be deliberate fire-raising in the common close area of a block of flats within North Ayrshire in the two days. The potential for persons within the property to be trapped by smoke and flames is significant therefore whoever was responsible should reflect on their actions and be thankful that nobody was injured or died as a result.”

Mr Davidson added: “As a result of the incident a gas box was damaged by the fire causing a gas leak within the building which of course presents the additional risk of explosion. The gas was isolated by fire crews and utilities teams had to come in undertake gas monitoring then carry out a repair.”