Police have confirmed that a fire at the back of the former Hourstons department store in Ayr last night was started deliberately. Emergency services were called to the rear of the historic store at around 6pm following reports of a fire at the top of an upper floor building.
As the drama unfolded, the part of Alloway Street that leads to the High Street was cordoned off as a precaution.
Emergency response
A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “We were alerted at 6.10pm on Thursday, October 8, to reports of a fire affecting a building on High Street in Ayr.”
“Operations Control mobilised four fire appliances and a high reach appliance to the area, and the fire was extinguished.”
“There were no reported casualties, and crews left the scene at 8.39pm after ensuring the area was safe.”
Today, police confirmed they are treating the fire as deliberate. A spokesperson for Police Scotland said: “Around 6.35pm on Thursday, October 8, police were called to assist Scottish Fire and Rescue Service at the scene of a fire in the Alloway Street area of Ayr. There were no injuries reported.”
“The fire is being treated as wilful and enquiries are ongoing.”
Security questions raised
Now questions are being asked over security around the patch of land where the fire started. The area is being earmarked for a possible housing/mixed use redevelopment. South Ayrshire Council are seeking to have the land redeveloped after previous plans for a ‘Wellness Village’ were scrapped due to a lack of funding.
However, there is a growing consensus that the fire was ‘predictable.’ It’s yet another high profile fire within Ayr that has set tongues wagging and caused dismay. Two previous fires eventually spelled the end of the iconic Ayr Station Hotel, as a legal wrangle between the local authority and its owner dragged on over its structural condition and future.
Now this latest fire at a site where the local authority hopes to redevelop has come under a security spotlight.
Local reaction
Ayr MSP Siobhian Brown took to social media, posting this message on Thursday night: “There will be a lot of anger regarding this. Many have been saying for months this (a fire) would happen. When there were security issues a few months back and the broken windows were repaired by SAC- we were given assurance that the building would be secured.”
One man said this on Facebook: “I regularly phone the police about teens in the building and the concern that one time it will result in a fire, but between the council and the police, not enough has been done to stop access to the building.”
Another man said: “If security isn’t stepped up after this latest attack then SAC’s budget for ripping up Burns Statue Square should be removed from them and used to secure and protect these historic assets. Utterly sickening.”
Another post read: “Absolutely typical. Just an excuse to bring the Hourstons building down, next it will be the old Kyle Centre.” One woman added: “Not a surprise but hope they save the frontage.”
A South Ayrshire Council spokesperson revealed that a security company is set to “review the site” and they will make “recommendations on how security can be improved.”
The spokesperson continued: “As part of the redevelopment of the site, a tender for the demolition of the former Hourstons building will be issued shortly. The fire does not affect overall plans for the site.” Building standards were also due to carry out an assessment of the building today (Friday, October 9).
