Community Appeal: Report Those Starting Deliberate Fires

North Wales’ Arson Reduction Team is appealing to residents to help them stamp out deliberate firestarting following a spate of fires in the Gwersyllt area over recent days.

As Wrexham.com readers will have seen over the weekend firefighters were called to several incidents over the last few days:

• Firefighters were called to deliberate wheelie bin fires on First Avenue and Wheatsheaf Lane at 02.44hrs last Wednesday morning, 6th August.
• They were then called to a deliberate fire involving 10metres of hedge at 00.28hrs on Thursday morning, 7th of August.
• At 23.18hrs on Friday, 8th of August, they were called to Heol Y Coed to a deliberate fire involving a tree.
• On Saturday, 9th of August at 23.23hrs, they were called to tackle a deliberate fire involving conifer trees and wooden pallets, and the following morning at 02.58hrs they were called to the same area to tackle a fire involving a fence panel – it is believed this was related to the previous night’s incident.

Kevin Jones, Arson Reduction Team Manager, said: “This type of antisocial behaviour is completely unacceptable and we’re appealing to members of the community to report these deliberate firestarters.

“Deliberate fires place tremendous pressure on resources, with our crews tied up for a considerable length of time trying to bring them under control which prevents them from attending other life threatening incidents.

“One of the incidents took place during a period of strike by firefighters across England and Wales – our services are limited during the ongoing periods of strike and the irresponsible actions of deliberate firestarters are putting lives in danger.”

Firefighter strikes are set to continue daily from 12pm – 2pm and just before 11pm until just before midnight until Saturday, August 16th.

The Arson Reduction Team are working with North Wales Police to tackle the issue in the local area, leafleting local residents to appeal for information, and local PCSOs will be making house to house enquiries.

Arson boards featuring the Crimestoppers number have also been erected in the area and two Arson Reduction detached youth workers have been working in the area.

Kevin added: “This kind of behaviour has potentially lethal consequences and we are working closely with the Police and other partner agencies in the area to try and tackle the problem. I would appeal to anyone with information on such activities to report it to North Wales Police.”

Anyone with information in relation to deliberate firesetting is urged to contact North Wales Police on 101 or anonymously via Crime stoppers on 0800 555 111.

Pic: A large tree that was set on fire in Gwersyllt sent to us by Karla-Beth.