Police and firefighters warn children over setting deliberate fires

Police and firefighters are warning children that they are putting lives at risk by deliberately starting fires, as crews across County Durham and Darlington tackle more than 1,000 blazes in just six months.

The warning comes during Anti-social Behaviour Awareness Week and at a time when warm and dry conditions have increased the risk of wildfires.

County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service attended 1,043 deliberate fires between January and June 2026, following 3,103 deliberate fires recorded throughout 2025, with emergency services repeatedly called to incidents in the same locations.

Station Manager Billy McAloon said: “During the school holidays and when the weather is nice, we typically see a spike in the number of deliberate incidents we attend.

“We want to remind young people and members of the public that setting fire to things like grass or bins is not a game.

"What may start as a moment of mischief can quickly escalate into a serious incident, putting lives, homes, businesses and the environment at risk.

“When firefighters are called to extinguish preventable fires, it can delay their ability to respond to other emergencies, including house fires, road traffic collisions and incidents where lives may be at immediate risk.”

Firefighters have visited more than 70 schools across County Durham and Darlington so far this year to educate young people about the dangers and consequences of deliberate fires as part of their prevention work.

They have also been working alongside Durham Constabulary and other partners to carry out patrols and engagement activity in areas affected by repeat incidents.

Superintendent Dean Haythornthwaite, head of neighbourhood policing for Durham Constabulary, said: "Everyone has a right to feel safe in their community and tackling antisocial behaviour remains a priority for Durham Constabulary.

"We understand the impact antisocial behaviour can have on communities and are committed to responding where concerns are raised. Through initiatives such as Operation Pave, officers have carried out an additional 14,000 hours of high-visibility patrols in the last year, targeting hotspots, providing a visible, reassuring presence, and enabling officers to respond swiftly to emerging issues.

"As the schools break up for the summer holidays, we would urge parents and guardians to know where your children are, who they're with, and what they're doing. You have a responsibility to ensure they don't become involved in behaviour that puts themselves or others at risk or causes disruption and distress to local communities.

"We also encourage residents to attend local PACT meetings and to report antisocial behaviour directly to us rather than assume someone else already has. By reporting incidents, including deliberate fires, you can help us identify those responsible and tackle the issues affecting your community."

As part of ASB Awareness Week, officers, firefighters and partner agencies will be speaking to residents about antisocial behaviour and community safety at Darlington Fire Station on Monday June 29, from 1pm to 3pm, and at South Park on Wednesday July 1, from 10am to 12pm.

Anyone with information on deliberate fires in their area can report it anonymously by calling FireStoppers on 0800 169 5558 or by visiting www.firestoppersreport.co.uk