Dalkeith woman distraught by aviary fire that killed 18 pet birds A woman has been left "distraught" after losing 18 pet birds in a fire that appears to have been started deliberately. Police said they were treating the incident in the woman's garden in Hill Place, Dalkeith, Midlothian, as suspicious following a spate of incidents in the town. The woman had to be treated for the effects of smoke inhalation after she tried to save her birds from the fire in the early hours of Saturday morning. She was given oxygen by paramedics at the scene but did not require hospital treatment. Police said other incidents in the Mayfield area of Dalkeith included a tarpaulin being set alight beside the wall of a house occupied by a family with two young children. The same house in Stone Place was targeted again when a wheelie bin was pushed up against a car and set on fire, causing damage worth £3000. Police are treating the blazes as suspicious and said it was only a matter of luck that nobody was seriously injured by them. They are looking to trace two young men who were seen in the area of Stone Place at about 4am on Saturday, shortly after the fire in Hill Place. Both are described as about 5ft 8ins tall and wore hooded tops. Detective Sergeant Stevie Bertram, of Police Scotland, said: "The owner of the aviary suffered from smoke inhalation after trying to save her birds. She had to be treated by medical staff at the scene and in addition to her physical distress she is distraught about the loss of the birds which she has nurtured for a decade. In the other incident a family, including two young children, were put at risk by the reckless actions of those responsible for setting these fires. On both occasions, the householders were alerted to the danger by neighbours who became aware of the fires. We are treating these fires as suspicious and it is a matter of luck that no one has been seriously injured. I would appeal for anyone who has any information to contact Police Scotland.