Community 'heartbroken' after fire at much-loved nursery school

A community has been left “heartbroken” after a fire engulfed its much-loved nursery school.

Parents in Ruchazie said the damage caused by the blaze at Elmcroft Nursery was “devastating” – police are treating it as deliberate.

On Tuesday evening, a local group were doing their weekly community litter-pick organised by Ruchazie Pantry in the Drumlochy Road area near the nursery.

They collected 20 bags of rubbish which were then left at a pick-up point by the nursery for council cleansing staff to uplift.

Later that night, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service was alerted to an alarm being triggered at the nursery at 8.13pm. Five minutes later they were told the building was on fire.

Three appliances were mobilised with around 14 firefighters sent to tackle the blaze.

A spokesperson for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said the fire had spread from rubbish at the side of the building.

Jacqueline Campbell attended the school as a child, her three sons went there, and now her two nephews go.

“All my friends went there as children and now our children go there too,” she told STV News.

“It’s generational.

“It’s a small nursery but it is a community nursery. People don’t realise the impact.”

The flames were extinguished by 8.54pm but emergency services remained on the scene until after 10pm to make sure the building was safe.

But the damage is so extensive the nursery has closed for repairs.

“Our community is heartbroken,” Ms Campbell said.

“We want to keep it safe.”

Doors, windows and shutters need replaced and ceilings and walls have suffered smoke and water damage.

Former pupils have set up a fundraiser to help repair and protect the nursery. They want the money to be used to install security cameras to prevent an incident like the one on Tuesday night from happening again.

“Unfortunately someone has set fire to part of the building and causing external and internal damage to the building,” a statement on the fundraiser said.

“The kids have already missed out on so much due to Covid and now they are missing out on being at nursery and spending time with there friends .

“We are hoping to raise enough money to help out with the cost towards security cameras and anything else that would keep the kids’ nursery safe from being vandalised again.”

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Officers received a report of a fire at a nursery on Croftcroighn Road, Glasgow around 8.20pm on Tuesday, May 24, 2022.

“There were no reports of any injuries.

“The fire is being treated as wilful and enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances.”