Blaze damages building at Common Thread children’s care home

AN INVESTIGATION is underway after a listed outbuilding near Thornhill was set ablaze, causing £40,000 worth of damage.

Firefighters from Thornhill and Sanquhar raced to Dalveen Farmhouse around 4.30pm when the blaze was reported by staff at residential child-care service Common Thread.

Dumfries and Galloway Fire Service Group Manager Neville Wright said: “Fire appliances attended the incident to find a large farm outbuilding well alight.

“Water was pumped from a nearby burn approximately 400 metres away to the incident ground.

“Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus and using two main jets and two hosereel jets quickly brought the fire under control, preventing it spreading to adjoining buildings.

“Approximately 150 square metres of the building was extensively damaged by the fire with partial roof collapse evident in some areas.”

A spokesman for Common Thread told the Standard: “These young people enjoy very high levels of care and supervision from experienced, trained and registered care workers as our primary concern is for their safety and welfare.

“Unfortunately on Monday afternoon September at Dalveen Farmhouse, a barn adjacent to the property was unintentionally set on fire.

“Our staff were aware of the fire within minutes of it starting and acted in accordance with our policies and procedures, immediately contacting the emergency services and ensuring the safety of our residents.

“We are currently conducting a thorough investigation into this incident and identifying what additional measures may be necessary to minimise the risk of such incidents occurring.

Prompt response

“We are pleased to report that no-one was injured during this incident and we would like to extend our sincere thanks to Dumfries and Galloway’s Fire Service and Police for their prompt response and support in managing this incident.

“We would also like to thank Buccleuch Estate for their understanding in this matter.”

Upper Nithsdale Councillor Gill Dykes said: “I’m relieved that nobody was hurt in the fire, but questions have to be asked about how this fire is believed to have been started.

“The situation could have been a lot worse and could have had tragic consequences.”