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 Deliberate Fires During The Easter HolidaysYoungsters are believed to be responsible for 46 fires since the start of the Easter holidays and with another week to go, fire crews are warning them that their actions could kill or land them in jail... All Areas
Firefighters have been busy across Kent and Medway since Saturday 31 March, attending a range of outdoor fires involving, rubbish, grassland, bushes and trees. Of 119 grassland and rubbish blazes, 85 are believed to have been started deliberately and it is suspected that children and young people (aged 17 and under) are believed to be responsible for over half although the causes and culprits of a number of fires remain unknown.* Callouts have covered most parts of the county and with a week of the Easter holidays left, KFRS Community Safety Manager, Stuart Skilton is warning young people – and their parents – of the dangers: “Whether started deliberately or through carelessness, these fires can easily spread out of control, destroying wildlife and putting people’s lives, including those of firefighters, and property at risk. “The consequences for individuals caught committing arson are serious and can result in large fines or several years in jail – possibly a life sentence if someone is killed as a result of their actions.” Problem areas over previous years have been identified in: · Old Park in Canterbury · Dartford Heath · Coney Banks and the Great Lines in Chatham/Gillingham · Saltings Road and the Recreation and Cricket Ground in Snodland · Maidstone town centre · Park Wood and Shepway estate · Tunbridge Wells town centre · Tonbridge Sports ground and town centre The public can help by following some important safety tips to prevent fires starting in the first place: - Don't discard cigarettes out of car windows as this can set light to grass verges and grassland areas and is illegal.
- Don't light fires in the countryside or drop litter which could be set fire to and again, littering is an offence.
- Don't accumulate rubbish which can act as potential fuel for deliberate fire setters
- Contact your local district or borough council to ask about disposal of unwanted furniture, or to report abandoned vehicles or fly tipped waste (Clean Kent 24 hour reporting line – 0845 345 0210)
- Extinguish bonfires and barbecues properly
- Keep matches and lighters out of the way of young people (especially young children) and remind them that they are not toys
- If you are a parent you are strongly advised not to leave youngsters to wander in the countryside unsupervised. Ensure that they are aware of the dangers of fire
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