Fire figures good news

The number of deliberate fires in Highland has dropped to its lowest for five years, according to the fire service.

There were 36 incidents across the region between the start of April and end of June.

It compared with 44 in the same quarter last year, and 91 for that period in 2014.

Newly appointed Highland area manager John Mac Donald yesterday told councillors meeting in Inverness that there was “no room for complacency”.

He said: “I am pleased to note this reduction. Deliberate fire setting not only damages our outstanding environment but puts our communities at risk and could also impact on local businesses.

“We’ve found that education is the mos t effective weapon in our prevention armoury. We welcome every available

“I am pleased to note this reduction”

opportunity to work with our communities to make them aware of the very real consequences of deliberate fire setting.”

Mr MacDonald said prevention efforts were continuing in partnership with the Safer Highland Antisocial Behaviour Group, the Inverness Response team and the Safer Caithness Team.

He added: “We’ll continue to promote best practice and partnership working through the Scottish Wildfire Forum, targeting key groups ahead of known peak wildfire periods.”

His report to the council’s communities and partnerships committee revealed there had been no fire fatalities during the first quarter of this year.

The Highland fire chief said the data for the first quarter of 2016 was “positive and very much welcomed.”