A fire chief has warned residents to guard against complacency after a rise in the number of deliberate fires in the Wishaw area.
The number of cases reported to Scottish Fire and Rescue Service in Wishaw rose from 14 between April and June last year to 24 in the same period this year.
In Motherwell South East and Ravenscraig, which includes Craigneuk, the number shot up from 16 in 2018 to a whopping 42 this year.
Des Donnelly, from the fire service, updated members of Craigneuk Community Council regarding the fire stats.
He said: “We have seen a major reduction in accidental fires within the home and there have been no fatalities and only three casualties.
“What we need to concentrate on now are reducing the number of fires that have been set deliberately.
“In the first quarter of this year the number has risen.
“However, the figures take in the Easter weekend and the spike in number of fires over that weekend was incredible.
“That accounts for the rise in the figures.
“We are working with the council regarding fly-tipping in the area because where we see fly-tipping there is always the possibility of fires being set deliberately.”
The number of accidental fires was down from 16 in 2018 to nine in 2019.
There was a slight rise in the number of fires in non-domestic properties in the first quarter of this year, rising from three to six.
Last year, fire chiefs had reported a 50 per cent reduction in the number of deliberate fires in the Craigneuk area.
The fire service stated they believed this was down to the creation
of the Wishawhill Wood pump track which had allowed them to engage with the kids who had been playing and training there.
