"Starting fires isn't a game." That's the message from North East firefighters as they prepare for their busiest time of year.
Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFRS) have launched a hard-hitting 'Darker Nights' campaign in the run-up to Bonfire Night warning people of the life-changing consequences of deliberate fires. Graphic images showing a teenager made up with horrific injuries are set to flood the streets of Tyne and Wear and Northumberland in the coming weeks as the service looks to raise awareness of the dangers.
It comes after TWFRS saw an 84% increase in deliberate fires in public areas during the two weeks that lead up to Bonfire Night last year.
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Richie Rickaby, area manager for community safety at TWFRS, said: “The consequences that some people may experience from setting a deliberate fire could be totally life-changing. They could receive or cause serious burns that will impact a person’s life forever."
To prevent a similar spike this year, TWFRS firefighters have already been speaking to children in schools across the region about fire safety.
And the fire service hopes that graphic campaign posters will strike a chord with youngsters. The posters show a teenager, who is wearing burns make-up, struggling to use his phone or play video games, with the message "starting fires isn’t a game” and “don’t set fire to your selfie”.
TWFRS is also working with Northumbria Police, North East Ambulance Service and Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service during the Darker Nights campaign. Local councils, Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner Kim McGuinness, Nexus and regional housing associations are also supporting the campaign.
TWFRS area manager, Richie Rickaby, continued: “We are working closely with our partners across the region to educate, inform and make people and businesses aware of the serious nature of any kind of anti-social behaviour, the selling of illegal unlicensed goods, and attending unofficial firework displays
“The fire service always strives towards keeping the local community safe from harm all year round, with a particular emphasis on the demands of Bonfire Night. But we would urge people to stay safe throughout the whole darker night’s season.
“We will be carrying out enforcement of licenced premises to ensure any fireworks sold in the coming weeks are safe but we would encourage communities to only attend organised displays.”
Anyone with information about deliberate fires being started in your local community can report the details anonymously by calling Firestoppers on 0800 169 5558 or by reporting it online at: www.firestoppersreport.co.uk
Anybody who is concerned about anti-social behaviour in their area is asked to report it to the police by speaking to an officer on patrol, via the ‘Tell Us Something’ page of the Northumbria Police website or by calling 101.
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