Plea To Report Deliberate Fires In Glenrothes

Scottish Fire and Rescue ask for help after incidents fall across the rest of Fife

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) is appealing to the public to report any information in relation to a number of deliberate fires in the Glenrothes area.

Fife Prevention and Protection Station Manager Steven Michie said: “Everyday almost 100 deliberate fires are started across Scotland. These fires blight our neighbourhoods, damage our environment and can cause injury or even death. Every deliberate fire has victims, costs and consequences and fire setting is an offence. Don’t accept it - report it.

“Between April 2014 and January 2015 our figures show that Fife wide we are experiencing a reduction of 25% of deliberate fire setting against our performance indicator. In the Glenrothes area however, we are not showing a reduction and have this year experienced a number of deliberately set fires within refuge, vehicles and wooded areas particularly within the Warout and surrounding areas.”

Yesterday (25 February), SFRS officers were speaking to primary 6/7 pupils in the two local schools to discuss the dangers and consequences of deliberate firesetting, with partners from Police Scotland and support from the Education dept.

Station Manager Michie continued: “This is an example of our partnership approach in educating young people in the dangers and consequences of this reckless action conducted by a very small minority of individuals.

“We ask local residents and businesses to ensure that rubbish does not accumulate outside their property and that wheelie bins are stored in a safe and secure area until collection.  Bin and rubbish fires can quickly take hold and spread to buildings and vehicles, posing a major risk to life and property.

“Any residents wanting further advice in relation to keeping their home safe from fire can contact us for a FREE home safety visit on 0800 0731 999, text ‘FIRE’ to 80800 or visit our website at www.firescotland.gov.uk.  You can also contact Fife Council Environmental Services on 03451 550011 for more information on issues involving accumulative rubbish.

“Anyone with information about these incident can contact Police Scotland on 101 or anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 55 111.”