Deliberate Fires Plea

Over the last few weeks we have attended a number of small outdoor fires which were started deliberately, some of these we believe were started by children and young people.

We are asking that if you are a parent or guardian that you know what your children are up to especially now it’s the Easter holidays and they are able to meet in groups outside.

You can help keep your families safe by keeping matches and lighters somewhere out of the reach of children, talking to them about fire safety and fitting smoke alarms on every level of your home.

Please remind children that;

• Deliberately starting fires is usually a criminal offence and even small fires can endanger lives.

• Fire spreads quickly and can be unpredictable.

• Playing with fire in the home or garden can have serious unintended consequences.

• Fires outside can easily get out of control and cause damage to woodland, moorland and wildlife.

If you are worried that your child is playing with fire you can get confidential advice by calling (freephone) 0800 074 0064 or emailing safeguarding@northyorksfire.gov.uk

We’d also like to remind you to be careful if you’re burning garden waste or having barbecues following a few of these fires that have spread out of control. Don’t build garden bonfires near sheds and hedges and avoid having them on windy days where embers can easily be blown.