FIREFIGHTERS have tackled a blaze in a derelict building at Hermitage Primary School in Helensburgh. 

Emergency crews rushed to the school on East Argyle Street after the alarm was raised just before 5am on Tuesday, April 12.

The fire was not in the school itself but in the derelict annexe building to the rear, on the Grant Street side of the school grounds.

A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “We were alerted at 4.56am on Tuesday, April 12 to reports of a building on fire at East Argyle Street, Helensburgh.

Helensburgh Advertiser: Andy Macfarlane took this picture from the opposite side of East Argyle Street showing the Hermitage Primary annexe building on fireAndy Macfarlane took this picture from the opposite side of East Argyle Street showing the Hermitage Primary annexe building on fire

“Operations Control mobilised six fire engines and two height vehicles to the scene where a fire is affecting a derelict building.

“There are no reported casualties at this time and crews are still in attendance.”

There is no direct effect on the running of the school today as pupils at Hermitage, in common with those at schools across Scotland, are currently on their Easter break.

A spokesperson for Argyll and Bute Council said: “The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service is responding to a fire in the disused annexe of Hermitage Primary School in Helensburgh. Schools are currently on holiday.

"We will continue to liaise with the SFRS in managing this situation.”

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: " At around 5.15am on Tuesday, April 12, 2022, officers were contacted by SFRS to attend a report of a fire in the derelict building on East Argyle Street, Helensburgh.

“Officers are working with partner agencies to determine the cause of the fire and we would encourage any person who may have witnessed the incident, or who has information that may be relevant to the investigation, to please contact Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident number 0362 of 12 April 2022.

"We would also ask that members of the public who may have been in the vicinity at the time to review any private CCTV or dashcam footage and contact Police Scotland if they have any relevant footage which could assist our investigation.”