Vandals putting lives at risk

Fire chiefs have warned that reckless vandals are putting lives at risk by deliberately setting blazes.

Assistant Chief Officer Dave McGown, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s director of prevention and protection, appealed to parents, grandparents and carers, as the school summer holidays kick off, because this is when malicious fire-setting increases.

And he reminded families that the fire service is working closely with police to trace and identify those responsible for setting malicious blazes.

He said: “The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has a zero tolerance approach to deliberate fire raising because it puts our communities at great risk.

“It presents a danger to life, property and the environment.

“We will continue to work very closely with our police and local authority partners to ensure that those responsible are identified and dealt with accordingly.”

During last year’s school summer holiday period, crews were called out to 532 deliberate primary fires such as dwellings and buildings between June 27 and August 29.

There were also 1,762 deliberate secondary fires, with more than 500 affecting fields and the countryside.

ACO McGown added: “It absolutely goes without saying that we prefer to prevent fires – not fight fires.

“In the lead up to the school holidays we have firefighters, community safety advocates and teachers delivering education to young people about the dangers of fire.

“We would ask parents and carers to help us also by discussing summer fire safety with young people.

“Together we can work towards a fire free summer.”

Anyone with information about deliberate fire-raising should contact the free and confidential Crimestoppers helpline on 0800 555 111.