Hamilton shops gutted in blaze

25 May 2012

Three shops in a Hamilton have been destroyed in a fire which police believe was started deliberately.

Fire crews were called to Mia's Indian Takeaway on New Street, Stonehouse, shortly after midnight on Wednesday (May 23rd) after a local business owner discovered the blaze and unsuccessfully tried to put it out, reports the Hamilton Advertiser.

The flames quickly spread to the nearby Scotbet Bookmakers, William McKenzie Hairdressers and two residential flats above the shops.

All of the affected buildings were gutted in the blaze, with other retailers also suffering smoke damage.

A man was taken to hospital after suffering the effects of smoke inhalation when alerting the residents of the flats to the incident.

A spokesman for Strathclyde Police revealed that the fire is being classed as "wilful fire-raising".

"Due to the severity of the fire and threat to life as well as significant loss of property value, the CID will be investigating," he told the news provider.

A 'suitable and sufficient' fire risk assessment must be conducted on all commercial properties in Scotland under the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005.

If this fire risk assessment is judged to have not been carried out to a suitable extent, the Duty Holder for the establishment can face up to two years in prison or an unlimited fine