‘SOMEONE COULD BE KILLED'
Warning after 20 acres of barley is destroyed in arson blaze
A councillor fears people could be killed if there are more arson attacks such as the one which ripped through farmland on Wearside and destroyed 20 acres of barley at the weekend.
The blaze tore through Little Eppleton Farm in the Hetton area, with the farmer whose land was involved in helping firefighters to put out the fire.
Investigators have said they believe the blaze, which could be seen for miles around, was started deliberately and have warned of the dangers of people starting fires in the current dry and hot weather conditions of this summer.
A Tyne and Wear Fire Brigade spokesman said the incident could have caused “untold damage to life and property”.
Hetton Town Councillor Bob Heron, a former mayor of Sunderland, today told of his concern that further incidents of the same nature could cost people their lives.
Coun Heron said: “We’ve had these type of fires in the past in this area.
“We had three quite serious ones in Hetton Dene and at Hetton Lyons not so long ago.
“The fire service managed to get them out before they got too bad, but with this latest one, it’s becoming a real problem particularly during the dry weather we’ve been having.
“It needs to be stressed just how serious it is.
“Somebody could be killed such as a firefighter who was trying to put it out or if a bystander got caught up in things.
“There could be serious consequences which the people starting these fires probably don’t realise.”
Coun Heron added that he thinks the education of young people on the dangers of starting fires is important.
“I know the fire service go into schools and they do very important work in educating children about this,” he said.
“That is the way that we can stop this and I think that’s the way forward.”
Crews were called shortly after 7pm on Sunday to Little Eppleton Farm after the blaze broke out.
Lynsey McVay, area manager who is responsible for Community Safety at Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service, said: “Over recent weeks Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service have attended a number of deliberate grass and barley fires across the area. These fires might start small but they can quickly develop, spreading uncontrollably over wide areas.
“These fires can easily spread to engulf buildings, cause injuries and badly effect the environment.”
“It needs to be stressed just how serious it is” COUN BOB HERON