Reduce demand on firefighters

PARENTS are being urged to make sure of their children's whereabouts to deter deliberate fires.

Following a spate of incidents in Gwynedd and Anglesey last week, fire crews from Prestatyn were called to a skip fire in Maes-Y-Groes.

On the same day - Sunday, March 29 - a similar deliberate incident involving a sofa occurred in Bangor following a week of multiple ignitions at the Dingle Nature reserve on Anglesey.

A spokesperson for North Wales Fire and Rescue said: "We were called at 2.53pm to a fire in the open involving a skip on maes-Y-Groes.

"The fire is thought to have been started deliberately, and we called a stop at 3.02pm."

Arson reduction manager Tim Owen reiterated that this kind of behaviour is "completely unacceptable".

He said: "We need residents to help reduce demand on our firefighters.

“Deliberate fires place tremendous pressure on resources, with our crews committed for a considerable length of time trying to bring them under control - which prevents them from attending genuine emergencies.

“Actions like this do not help us keep our community safe. I would like to take this opportunity to appeal to parents to tell their children to stay home and impress upon them the message that deliberate fires endanger lives.

“Remember - setting fires is a criminal offence and we are actively working alongside North Wales Police to combat deliberate incidents.“

“Please follow Government and Local Authority advice about social distancing - we are staying here for you, please stay home for us.”

Anyone with information on such crimes is advised to anonymously call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or North Wales Police on 101.