A FIRE at a former care home in Dalmuir is being treated as deliberate.
Emergency service rushed to the scene on Ottawa Crescent at the weekend, where flames engulfed the derelict Frank Downie House care home.
As smoke plumes began to engulf the surrounding area, officers and council employees evacuated nearby homes.
Firefighters have since extinguished the fire but the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service have launched an investigation in conjunction with police.
Police Scotland confirmed the blaze is being treated as wilful.
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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 6 August 2022.”
"Clydemuir Primary School had been opened as a receiving centre for any residents who had been evacuated.
"Those who have not been evacuated are advised to keep their windows closed."
Meanwhile, Councillor Martin Rooney, chair of West Dunbartonshire Community Planning Partnership (WDCPP), 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 those asked to leave their homes and remained open as a rest centre for blue light response teams until 5am on Sunday.
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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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