Fire crews rescue 14 from blaze

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Firefighters have rescued 14 people after a blaze in Greenock which may have been started deliberately.

More than 50 officers were called out to tackle the fire, which threatened to engulf neighbouring properties.

Part of the roof of the building, in the town's Sinclair Street, later collapsed, Strathclyde Fire and Rescue Service said.

The blaze, reported at 0415 GMT, came after a number of recent deliberate fires in the area.

Fire crews from Greenock Community Fire Station arrived at the scene to find the blaze in the top floor and roof space of the Sinclair Street building, before calling for back-up from other stations.

'Occupied house'

Crews tackled the fire from outside, because of the weakened state of the structure.

Strathclyde Fire and Rescue Service group commander Bill Robb said: "In the past few weeks there have been a number of fires in this area which have been started deliberately.

"Most of these fires have involved waste in the open, however, one did involve waste set on fire outside the front door of an occupied house.

"The cause of this fire in Sinclair Street is under investigation by Strathclyde Fire and Rescue and Strathclyde Police."

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