Asron awareness week

Fire service and partners to launch community campaign across Merseyside for Arson Awareness Week

Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service will join forces with partner agencies across the region this week (18th– 22ndMarch) to highlight the dangers of deliberate fire settingas part of Arson Awareness Week.

The initiative, which runs from Monday March 18th to Friday March 22nd, will see Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service team up with Merseyside Police, local authorities, housing providers and other agencies to highlight the potentially lethal consequences of arson.

During the past five years, fire crews in Merseyside have had to tackle nearly 20,500 deliberate firesinvolving rubbish, bins and grass, and 2,800 deliberatefires involving vehicles.

As part of the campaign to tackle this problem, fire service staff, advocates, PCSOs and volunteers will visit homes and businesses in St Helens, Knowsley. Liverpool North, Liverpool South, Wirral and Sefton during the week to carry out Home Fire Safety Checks, distribute information leaflets and identify residents who may be vulnerable.

Michael Buratti, Arson Reduction Manager for Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service, said: “The figures from the last five years show that arson is a huge issue for both local communities and our service, with sometimes deadly consequences for those affected.

“Arson Awareness Week will see organisations from across our county come together to raise awareness of the dangers of arson and the impact fires have on our communities.

“Arson is a serious criminal offence which puts people’s lives at risk, causes damage to homes, businesses and community facilities and impacts on wildlife and the environment.

“It can range from mindless criminal damage to a deliberately-targeted attack but, either way, thepotentially lethal results remain the same.

“If fire appliances are called out to deliberate fires this may delay the response to other emergencies, which could endanger lives elsewhere.

“We want to make people aware that deliberately setting fires in a public place is arson and, if caught, those responsible may face legal action.”