Deliberate fire-setting is on the rise in Dundee as emergency service bosses struggle to contain the issue post-lockdown.
In the six months between April and September 2021 50 deliberate primary fires targeting buildings and cars were reported in the city, higher than the three-year average of 36.
In addition, 394 deliberate secondary fires targeting scrubland and rubbish were tackled, 67% higher than the same period in 2020 and 50% greater than the three year average of 261.
Councillors will be able to quiz fire chiefs on the issue at a meeting of Dundee City Council's community safety committee on Monday January 10.
Scottish Fire and Rescue Service area commander Stephen Wood says that while the figures are high the overall picture is a "very pleasing downward trend in deliberate secondary fires and the associated anti-social behaviour that is often attributed to these types of incidents."
He wrote in his report to elected members: "Each summer the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) face a spate of outdoors fires, many of which are started deliberately.
"This places a considerable demand on operational resources, putting firefighters, members of the public and businesses at risk.
"As part of the summer thematic action plan, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service set objectives to reduce fire related anti-social behaviour, reduce the number of fires in derelict/unoccupied buildings, reduce the number of fires in including refuse/rubbish and promote water safety."
However, anti-social behaviour has actually dropped across Dundee, according to new figures from Police Scotland.
The force says reports of anti-social behaviour have declined by almost 20%.
Despite the rise in deliberate blazes, Wood does report some good news in other areas of fire service activity in Dundee.
Just 40 accidental dwelling fires were reported between April and September 2021, compared to a three-year average of 95.
There were no fatalities and eight injuries from house fires in the same time period.
Fire chiefs credit their stepped up home fire safety visit programme, which saw 487 households given advice on how to make their homes safer, with the drop.
However, non-domestic fires have increased compared to recent years, with 21 occurring between April and September.
The number of serious road crashes fire officers were called to assist in has also increased on the same time period in 2020 - likely due to increased road traffic compared with the peak of the coronavirus lockdown.
Firefighters intervened in 23 crashes in the six month period, up from 15 the year before - and 16 injuries were reported in those collisions, up from four.
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