A spate of deliberate fires in the Carlisle area has led to a warning from Cumbria County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service that lives are being put at risk.
Firefighters attended incidents under Nelson Bridge, Carlisle, at 1am on 25 February and to the rear of Holmacres Drive, Carlisle, at 8.15pm on 26 February. In both cases, crews from Carlisle East fire station extinguished small fires in a quantity of rubbish.
The latest incidents follow a number of other nuisance fires in the Carlisle area over recent weeks.
A spokesperson for Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service said: “These fires are putting lives in danger and we’d urge anybody considering starting a blaze of this nature to think of the potentially fatal consequences of their reckless actions. Deliberate fires, particularly those involving piles of rubbish near buildings, can spread rapidly and quickly get out of control endangering lives and property.
“Dealing with these avoidable incidents mean that we are needlessly tied up rather than being available for more serious emergencies.
“We’re working with the police to identify those involved in this criminal activity and are asking the local community to help us out by spreading the fire safety warning and reporting anybody responsible for lighting these fires.”
Anyone with information about these nuisance fires is asked to contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
