Fire service warning over teenagers starting ‘bit of fun’ fires

A fire service has warned how teenagers starting campfires “as a bit of fun” can have serious consequences following several incidents.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said it had been called out to a spate of small fires started by young people in recent weeks.

In one instance, an aerosol exploded while a firefighter was putting out the blaze, resulting in a “large fire ball”, the service said.

Craig Lyons, watch manager for prevention, said: “What can start out as a bit of fun can soon get out of control and and it can end up causing some real damage and injuries.”

The service said the fires had happened across Catterick and Richmond, with some involving plastic or aerosols which had been placed on them.

Mr Lyons said such call-outs were tying crews up from potentially more serious incidents such as a house fire or car crash.

He said: “Left unattended or as with fire like this – especially in these drier weathers – when embers are getting away from fires, they can obviously spread pretty quickly.

“We see a lot of of horrendous injuries through burns.”

Mr Lyons also warned that starting a fire which resulted in damage to land or property was treated as arson and those responsible could face prosecution.

He added: “If you’re a young person and you’re ambitious and you’ve got plans for your future, any sort of charges like that on your record are going to obviously have a detrimental effect in later life.”

He urged parents of children who “come home smelling of fire” to ask questions.

“If you’re not getting the answers, then you can get in touch with us and we can put interventions in place,” he said.