Arson Teenagers taking on social media challenge could be to blame for fires
ADANGEROUS trend on Snapchat and Tiktok is believed to be behind a spate of deliberate fires in Cheltenham.
Police suspect teenagers have been trying to “see who can light the biggest fire” to then film and post the footage on their social media channels.
Gloucestershire Police and Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service issued a statement last Friday about a rising number of arson incidents in the town.
CCTV investigation and patrols have prompted suspicions that the fires “may have been started by youths as part of social media trends”, the force revealed.
Parents have even been urged to be alert in case their child comes home smelling like a bonfire.
It comes after several fires raged in the areas of Warden Hill, Hatherley and Oakley in recent months.
Last month Crimestoppers offered a £1,000 reward to anyone with information about the string of arsons, including one in which bins were set alight at the Morrisons supermarket in Up Hatherley.
Last Friday’s police statement read: “It is believed that teenagers using the apps Tiktok and Snapchat may be starting the fires to post content on their accounts and to see who can light the biggest fire.”
As well as the obvious dangers posed by the setting of large fires and causing damage, emergency services are also concerned about the strain on resources as they get deployed to the scenes.
Acting Inspector Steve Benbow, of the Cheltenham neighbourhood policing team, said: “We are continuing to work with our partner agency colleagues to find those responsible for the fires but now believe that social media trends may be the catalysts for them.
“We are asking parents to please talk to their teenagers about the dangers of starting fires and to be alert if they come home smelling like they have been to a bonfire.
“My team are regularly liaising with colleagues from Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service, local councillors and Neighbourhood Watch so that we can keep everyone safe.”
Kev Adcock, local risk manager at the fire service, added: “These deliberate fires are an unnecessary distraction for the Fire Service and could mean that lives could be lost or property damaged by delaying our response to more serious incidents.
“I would ask anyone with any information to use the contact details supplied to help us stop these irresponsible actions.”
Anyone with information about the fires can call police on the 101 number or contact police online, or call 999 if they see anything which they feel could pose an imminent risk to the public’s safety.
Several fire services have warned over the past week about a separate Tiktok challenge, which has resulted in them having to rescue people stuck in playground swings.
We are asking parents to please talk to their teenagers about the dangers of starting fires Acting Inspector Steve Benbow