Northamptonshire fire roundup: More than TWENTY arson attacks in county in ONE WEEK
Here's a roundup of some of the big fires which have happened in Northamptonshire recently and are being investigated for arson
More than TWENTY deliberate fires have been started in Northamptonshire over a one-week period at the end of April, according to the fire service.
This newspaper has rounded up some of the recent arson attacks which have happened in and around Northampton and been tackled by the fire service.
Northamptonshire Police were contacted to see if any of the arsons were connected. They responded by saying none are currently being linked.
Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service (NFRS) also said these arson attacks are a 'risk to life and safety', wastes the service's 'time and money', and that the resources 'could be better spent elsewhere'.
NFRS has also called on parents and guardians to educate their children about the dangers of starting fires.
An NFRS spokesman said: "Between April 26 and May 2, Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue service was called to more than 20 fires that were started deliberately across the county.
"These varied from car fires to trees and wooded areas being set alight, and they are all acts of anti-social behaviour. As well as being a risk to life and safety, attending these incidents costs the service time and money to deal with, resources which could be spent better elsewhere."
Lisa Bryan, from NFRS, said: “Deliberate fires divert our resources away from real emergencies and put our crews in unnecessary danger.
“It is important that we try and prevent as many of these deliberate fires as possible. Parents or guardians should ensure that young people are aware of the dangers of starting fires, not only can it cause them harm but also harm members of the public nearby.
“If anyone has any information about a deliberate fire-setting incident, please let us know via FireStoppers.”
FireStoppers is 100% anonymous. You can either call on 0800 169 5558 or visit www.firestoppersreport.co.uk
Anyone who witnesses a fire in progress should call 999 immediately.
1. Weedon
Police are keeping an "open mind" over whether two arson attacks in a Northamptonshire village three weeks apart are connected. This newspaper shared shocking video of two yobs torching three cars on a driveway in Weedon Bec in the early hours of Wednesday, March 30, morning. That followed a similar attack on a vehicle parked outside a house about half-a-mile away earlier this month.
2. Balfour Road
Police and fire fighters believe a van was abandoned and set alight in Northampton. Fire crews were called to the incident in Balfour Road, Queens Park, on Saturday, April 24, at around 11pm where they found a white Ford Transit van's door open, windows smashed and on fire. It is being treated as arson.
3. Brackmills
A huge fire that ripped through a Northampton-based business is being treated as arson. The blaze broke out at around 1.30am on Saturday (May 1) in Caswell Road, Brackmills industrial estate. Nobody was hurt in the fire, but personalisation business - My 1st Years - has been left heartbroken as its head office is extensively damaged with bosses expecting little to no chance of salvaging any of the building or its contents.
4. Semilong substation
Detectives now believe an arsonist started the Semilong blaze which destroyed two 11,000-volt electricty substations in the area. Investigators from police and Northamptonshire Fire & Rescue initially indicated the cause of the fire was being put down to "an accidental electrical fire." But officers later confirmed they now suspect it was the result of an arson attack and issued a description of a man seen in the area of Semilong, between 9pm and 10.20pm, at the time the blaze started.