Increase in fire starting

Firefighters in Perth and Kinross are to take a“zero-tolerance”approach to tacking deliberate fires in the region after there was a rise in needless blazes last spring.

Recent figures show that fire crews across Tayside were called to tackle four deliberate fires every single day during spring last year – an increase of 63 per cent from the same period in 2018.

Fire crews were mobilised to a total of 205 incidents of deliberate fire-raising within areas of Perth and Kinross, Angus and Dundee (PKAD) between March and April 2019.

These fires were largely comprised of outdoor incidents impacting fields, refuse and countryside but also included building and vehicle fires.

The“shocking”rise is placing lives at risk, warns Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) director of prevention and protection, assistant chief officer Ross Haggart.

He said:“We take a zero-tolerance approach to deliberate fire setting and it is a small minority of individuals who are potentially putting themselves, our firefighters and innocent bystanders at risk of serious harm and injury.

“Make no mistake – fire can cause injury and death, it can be devastating to properties, businesses and the environment.

“Last year witnessed a shocking rise in deliberate fire-raising during the spring period.

“These incidents are a needless drain on our resources and can impact on our response to genuine emergencies – where lives might very well be at risk.

“The fact that our firefighters are called to thousands of deliberately set fires each year is completely unacceptable.”

ACO Haggart was speaking as Scotland’s national fire and rescue services launched its #SpringSafety campaign.

Across Scotland, the SFRS recorded a staggering 3658 incidents of deliberate fire-raising during spring last year – an increase of 97 per cent.

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

“But let me be very clear – we operate a strict zero tolerance approach to deliberate fire raising.

“It is reckless, selfish, and can have devastating consequences.

“We will continue to work very closely with our police and local authority partners to provide evidence that will ensure those responsible are identified and held to account for their actions.

“It is vital that we continue to remind people that deliberate fire setting is a crime and that a criminal record can affect future life and job opportunities – a price that can be easily avoided.”

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