More than half of Merseyside grass and rubbish fires were deliberate during school holidays

Firefighters attended 418 grass and rubbish fires across Merseyside between 20 July and 9 August, with 240 recorded as deliberate.

The figures from Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service (MFRS) mean deliberate incidents accounted for more than half of all grass and rubbish fires during the period.

From 1 June to 9 August, crews attended 945 grass and rubbish fires. This included 643 grassland fires, while 515 of the 945 incidents were recorded as deliberate.

Kevin Johnson, MFRS Head of Prevention, said a recent fire had reached the boundary of a primary school and come close to nearby homes.

“What may start as a small fire can spread incredibly quickly when conditions are dry, and in this case the flames reached the boundary of a primary school and came close to nearby homes.”

“Thankfully, our firefighters were able to prevent the fire from spreading further, but the outcome could have been very different.”

“More than half of the grass and rubbish fires we have attended since the start of the school holidays have been recorded as deliberate. These fires are not harmless – they can threaten homes and buildings, destroy wildlife and green spaces, and put members of the public and our firefighters at risk.”

“We are asking people to think carefully about their actions. Never deliberately light a fire in open spaces, dispose of cigarettes safely and take your rubbish home rather than leaving it on grassland.”

MFRS said these incidents can divert crews from other emergencies. While attending grass and rubbish fires, firefighters also dealt with 134 house or flat fires where people may have been involved and needed rescuing.

Mr Johnson added:

“Our firefighters will always respond when someone needs help, but we are asking people to think about the consequences of their actions. Deliberately starting a fire can put other people in danger and place unnecessary pressure on emergency services. Help us help you.”

MFRS is asking people to:

• Never deliberately light fires in open spaces.
• Put cigarettes out completely and dispose of them safely.
• Take litter home or use the bins provided.
• Only use barbecues in designated areas and never leave them unattended. Barbecues are not permitted on beaches.
• Keep home barbecues away from grass, fences, sheds and buildings.
• Call 999 immediately if a fire is spotted.
• Report suspicious behaviour or suspected deliberate fire-setting to Merseyside Police.

With the rise in deliberate fires coinciding with the school holidays, the service is also asking parents and carers to keep track of where children are and what they may be doing.

They should look out for clothes smelling of smoke, unexplained burn marks, or lighters, aerosols and other items going missing from the home. People are also being asked to remain vigilant in areas affected by repeat incidents and report anything suspicious to Merseyside Police.