Hoax caller 'put lives at risk'

Three engines were sent to an address in Falcons Way, Runcorn, on Friday night after the fire was reported.

But when crews found no blaze the man rang back to mock the control room operators, before making a further two abusive calls.

Fire chiefs are appealing for the public's help to trace the man.

"Hurry up, there's people dying"
Hoax caller

A recording of the call has been put on the Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service website in the hope someone recognises the caller.

In the tape, the man claims that two houses are alight and that people could be heard "screaming" inside.

The caller says: "There's been a house set on fire. There's people trapped in there... and there's people outside shouting abuse."

After being challenged to assure the operator he is telling the truth, he says: "I can hear them screaming."

He then adds: "Hurry up, there's people dying."

'Real emergencies'

Det Con Nigel Mills, the service's police liaison officer, said it was the worst hoax call he had ever dealt with while working for the service.

He said: "By making this call, this hoax caller put the lives of people in Runcorn at risk because fire appliances may not have been available to respond to real emergencies.

"I would also like to stress to him that this is now being treated as a serious crime.

"To help us identify the male caller I would encourage people to listen to the hoax call made by visiting the hoax call section of the service's website."

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service
Hoax caller in Runcorn
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