Last summer’s heat wave saw more than 100 grass and woodland fires across South Lanarkshire.
Between June and August, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) recorded 109 in the region as grass and woodland fires quadrupled.
The figures were released as the SFRS launched their Stamp It Out summer safety campaign and said they will do “everything in its power” to help Police Scotland trace dangerous fire starters.
Assistant chief officer Ross Haggart explained: “Every firefighter takes their preventative efforts very seriously – at the end of the day, we would rather prevent a fire from happening in the first place.
“Firefighters, community safety advocates, teachers and community groups all help in delivering talks designed to inform young people of the consequences of deliberate fires.
“Parents and carers can also help us share the message and achieve our aim of driving down deliberate fires.
“I’d urge our communities to support our aim of reducing deliberate fires.
“These incidents put lives, property and the environment at risk. They can also delay firefighters in getting to a real emergency such as a house fire where every minute counts. Firefighters will be there to respond when called upon, but please think twice before deliberately starting a fire.”
