Two dogs nearly die in deliberate Darlington fire

"You very nearly killed two dogs.”

Police are urging parents to educate their children on the dangers of starting fires after a deliberate one nearly engulfed a kennel housing two dogs.

On Sunday (July 19), officers received a call stating two boys on a small Revvi motorbike had been seen going around Eastbourne Park, in Darlington, starting fires.

One fire had been started on a boundary fence between the park and neighbouring houses on Eastbourne Road.

It quickly spread from the fence to two wooden outbuildings, one of which was a kennel housing two dogs.

In the other outbuilding was a home gym where a man was working out. Luckily, he heard the boys and came out, saw the fire, and managed to evacuate the two dogs safely.

The fire, which caused extensive damage to the fence and outbuildings, was extinguished by colleagues from the fire service, in addition to another small blaze which had been started on a nearby tree stump.

Through their CCTV enquiries, PCSOs identified the suspects as being two ten-year-old boys who lived locally.

Both boys were visited by police at their homes the following day and spoken to with their parents present.

One admitted to starting the fires after stealing his mum’s lighter without her knowledge, and has been referred to Darlington’s Youth Offending Service.

The other boy admitted he was present but did not start the fires. He has been referred to Darlington Borough Council’s Antisocial Behaviour Team for intervention, who will work with the boy alongside his parents to address his behaviour and prevent it from escalating further.

He has also been referred to County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service who will educate him on fire safety and the dangers and consequences of starting them.

Advice was also given to both parents about the use of Revvi bikes – the bikes are throttle-powered electric bikes, not pedal assisted, and are therefore illegal on public roads.

Inspector David Littlefair, from Darlington Neighbourhood Police Team, said: “These were really serious incidents that could very nearly have resulted in the death of two dogs.

“Had the man who was working out in his home gym not heard the boys and acted so quickly, the consequences could have been catastrophic.

“The parents of both boys were rightfully mortified at their children’s behaviour and were fully supportive of police action.

“It goes without saying that starting deliberate fires is extremely dangerous, but it is particularly dangerous now following the long period of hot, dry weather we’ve had - they can spread rapidly on dry ground, causing devastating damage to property, wildlife, and natural landscapes.

“If you’re a parent or carer, please speak to your children and warn them of the dangers of starting fires – they are not just a bit of fun, they ruin people’s property, devastate wildlife, and could end in disaster.”

Darlington Station Manager Billy McAloon said: “We want to stress that starting fires is not a game – it can put lives at risk. Such incidents can also damage the environment, property and impact the wider community.

“Attending deliberate fires puts a strain on our resources which can affect the availably of crews to attend critical incidents like house fires and road traffic collisions. We want to encourage parents to speak to children and young people about the dangers of fire-setting.

“Please remind them that arson is a crime that they can be prosecuted for and this can have a lasting impact on future employment opportunities.

“We urge anyone with information on deliberate fires in their area to contact police.

“You can also report incidents anonymously by calling FireStoppers on 0800 169 5558 or visiting www.firestoppersreport.co.uk.”