'Spike' in deliberate fires - Staffordshire Fire and Rescue
Recent incidents include a fire on Old Hall Drive, in Newcastle-under-Lyme, at 19:00 BST on 14 May.The fire, in a hedge, had spread to garden furniture. No one was injured.Another incident, on 15 May, saw crews called to an area of woodland off Hargreave Close, Meir Park, Stoke-on-Trent, at 19:45.The fire, measuring about two-metres-by-two-meters, was extinguished and again no-one was reported injured.SFRS said both incidents were started deliberately and Staffordshire Police was investigating."This recent incident in Newcastle-under-Lyme had spread from a field to a garden and had the family not been at home at the time to alert it, it could have spread to their property," Mr Steel added."It is important to remember that whilst firefighters are dealing with these deliberate fires, it means that should there be another incident locally, such as a car crash or a house fire, the nearest fire crew won't be available."This year, the Easter holidays coincided with the sunniest and one of the driest Aprils on record.Ch Insp for Newcastle-under-Lyme local policing team, Darren McGrath, added: "It's really important for parents to have a conversation with their children so they understand both the dangers and the seriousness of these offences."
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