Flat fire vandals 'risked lives'

Firefighters were delayed because of damage to dry riser outlets

Vandals who damaged water access points at a multi-storey block of flats which went on fire put lives at risk, firefighters have said.

Crews called to the blaze at the building, in Glasgow, were delayed after finding some of its dry riser outlets had been vandalised.

The fire broke out on the 10th floor of the building, on Pinkston Drive, at about 2100 BST on Tuesday.

It was put out and there were no reports of casualties or injuries.

The damaged dry riser outlets forced the Strathclyde Fire and Rescue Service teams to run a hose from the 6th to the 10th floor to tackle the flames.

"The vandalising of these dry riser outlets could have had serious consequences and resulted in injury to fire service personnel or the residents of the building," said a spokesman for the service.

"Depending on the severity of the fire, somebody could have been killed."

A joint investigation with police was being carried out into the incident.