Drive targets child fire starters

More than £1m in damage was done during a fire at a Dundee factory

A major drive has been launched in Scotland to target children and young people who maliciously start fires.

It comes as latest figures show Scottish fire services attend about 137 related call-outs each day.

The summer campaign will focus on communities to highlight the dangers of playing with fire.

Supported by Scotland's eight fire services, those behind the campaign hope to stress the "real consequences" of deliberately starting fires.

An outdoor advertising campaign has been launched and information leaflets targeting parents will be distributed by local brigades throughout Scotland.

In 2003, the fire service attended nearly 50,000 such fires, representing 75% of all fires recorded in Scotland - an increase of 32% on the previous year.

People need to realise the damage and injury these actions can cause Gary Moore Fire victim

As a result, 10 people were killed and 357 people hurt, as well as millions of pounds worth of damage being caused to properties and businesses across Scotland.

The most common acts of wilful fire-raising include setting fire to rubbish, grass and trees, skips, derelict buildings, abandoned vehicles and building stairwells.

Fire services point out that malicious acts put lives at risk and take valuable fire resources away from other serious incidents.

Resources 'better spent'

Brian Sweeney, chief officer of Strathclyde Fire and Rescue, said: "I very much welcome this campaign and give it my full support.

"Children may think playing with fire is fun, but too often it leads to injury and loss of life as well as the destruction of property.

"Fire setting also uses up vital fire service time and resources that are better spent in areas such as providing fire safety advice to communities."

A spokesman from the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpos) added: "Not only is fire setting extremely dangerous, it is against the law and police throughout the country will work with the fire service to investigate reports of wilful fire-raising.

"Often people who start fires do not intend to cause injuries to anyone or to damage property extensively but young people should take heed of this campaign which highlights the very real and dangerous consequences of wilful fire-raising."

About 75% of all recorded fires in 2003 were started on purpose

Gary Moore, 33, a resident of a tenement building in Pollokshields, Glasgow, was in his flat when a fire was started in the common stairwell. He has given his full support to the campaign.

He said: "It was a really frightening experience. I started to panic when smoke appeared under the front door.

"Luckily the brigade got to the scene quickly and I was taken to hospital along with other residents to be treated for the effects of smoke inhalation.

"Aside from the damage to my property, it could have been so much worse. People need to realise the damage and injury these actions can cause."