Firefighters were called to tackle seven deliberate fires every day during Spring last year – a rise of almost 50% on same period in 2018.
Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) crews across the north area – including Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Moray, and the Highlands and the islands – were called to 397 incidents of deliberate fire-raising between March and April 2019.
This is an increase of 48% on the year before, when firefighters dealt with 268 needless blazes during the same period.
These fires were largely comprised of outdoor incidents impacting fields, refuse and countryside, but also included building and vehicle fires.
Assistant Chief Officer Ross Haggart described the rise as ‘shocking’ adding: “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.”
ACO Haggart said: “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.
“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.”
Across Scotland, the SFRS recorded a staggering 3,658 incidents of deliberate fire-raising during Spring last year – an increase of 97%.