Arsonists started more than 20,000 fires over ten years
DECADE OF AUSTERITY CUTS HAS HAD AN IMPACT ON PREVENTATIVE WORK, SAYS UNION
ARSONISTS have started more than 20,000 fires in Nottinghamshire in the last decade – causing 14 deaths and injuring hundreds.
Last year alone, Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service was called out to deal with 1,410 arson attacks, which was only 110 (7 percent) fewer than in 2019/20, despite the lockdown restrictions for most of last year.
The figures, released by the Government, include 67 arson attacks on houses, 74 on other buildings, 56 grass and other outdoor fires, and 157 torched cars and other vehicles.
There was also one chimney fire and 1,055 secondary blazes.
Fires sparked deliberately in 2020/21 caused one death.
There were also 15 casualties, which included 10 people who required hospital treatment – two were in a “severe” condition – another two who received first aid for smoke inhalation or some other form of injury, and three who received precautionary checks.
Since 2010/11 there have been a total of 21,832 fires started deliberately that have been dealt with by Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service.
In total, those arson attacks have been responsible for causing the deaths of 14 people, as well as 225 casualties, which include 138 who needed hospital treatment.
Separate figures show that Nottinghamshire Police recorded 485 offences of arson in 2020/21, including 91 of the more serious crime of arson endangering human life.
More offences took place in Nottingham (153) than anywhere else in the county. There were also 75 committed in South Nottinghamshire, 74 in Bassetlaw, 63 in Mansfield, 60 in Ashfield, and 56 in Newark and Sherwood.
Another four offences have not been assigned to a specific area.
So far only 6 percent of those offences (28) have resulted in someone being charged.
Mark Wrack, general secretary of the
Fire Brigade Union (FBU), added: “It is a tragedy that we have lost so many lives in fires started deliberately over the last decade and our thoughts go out to those who have lost a loved one or been affected by these dreadful incidents.
“The decline in the number of fires started deliberately is a positive trend, but one arson attack is one too many. It is an utter disgrace that people choose to put lives at risk – including those of firefighters who are called out to these incidents.
“Firefighters have done fantastic work engaging with young people and the wider community and this has a direct impact in reducing deliberate setting of fires.
“Regrettably, austerity cuts have reduced the ability of the fire and rescue service to undertake such work. That’s why cuts and underfunding of our service are so shortsighted.
“Those who start fires on purpose need to understand they are putting more strain on our already overstretched and under-funded fire services. Fire services are at breaking point following a decade of cuts and every incident like this takes resources and personnel away from other emergencies, endangering more lives.”
A spokesperson for the National Fire Chiefs Council said: “The reality is, these calls are not only diverting firefighters away from other potentially life-threatening call-outs, they also show a lack of respect for firefighters.
“As well as the life-changing injuries arson can bring, arson attacks disrupt the economy, schools and communities. We would like to see the courts hand out the strongest possible sentencing they can.
“Arson has been a blight on communities for some considerable time, having in the main an economic loss to people, businesses, communities and local authorities. Aside from this, the demands on some fire and rescue services from arson far outweighs that of other incident types, resulting in resources being diverted away from life risk incidents and preventive activities.”