Fire service strained after 1,600 fires started deliberately during first lockdown
More than 1,600 fires were started deliberately across the region during the first coronavirus lockdown, new figures reveal.
Fire chiefs say the high number of number of call outs put an extra strain on services at a time when many firefighters were helping deliver food and medicine to vulnerable people, as well as supporting police and ambulance services dealing with the pandemic.
Home Office data shows the West Midlands Fire Service responded to 934 deliberate fires between April and June.
Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service responded to 574 incidents, and Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service responded to 126 deliberate fires.
There were 30 casualties, none of which were fatal.
The figures include all fires suspected to be intentional, including arson, and others such as bonfires and grass fires.
Across all three fire service areas, the number of deliberate fires fell by 11 per cent compared to the same period in 2019.
National Fire Chiefs Council chair Roy Wilsher said: "During these unprecedented times, the fire service is working incredibly hard to ensure the safety of communities across the entire UK, doing their upmost to protect the most vulnerable.
"Attending a deliberate fire is time away from attending other life-threatening incidents and carrying out other vital work. Arson is a criminal act and fire services will work with the police in a bid to hold these people to account in a bid to see them successfully prosecuted."
He added: "Fire services have committed to providing support to other emergency services during this pandemic.
"Bringing down the number of preventable fires will mean they have more capacity to support the most vulnerable in their communities, while ensuring they maintain their emergency response.”
Fire and rescue services across England attended more than 20,000 deliberate fires during the three month period, during which the toughest Covid restrictions were imposed.
A Home Office spokesman said: “Deliberate fires needlessly waste firefighters’ precious time and resources and enforcement action can be taken against those responsible."
