Hundreds of children have embraced a programme to help drive down the number of deliberate fires blighting Aberdeen.
For the past 14 years, primary six and seven pupils across the city have embarked on countryside walks to learn about the damage fire can wreak on the environment.
And another round of sessions will begin next month, lasting until May.
The “walks and talks” initiative is a joint educational programme led by the fire service, the police, Aberdeen City Council’s countryside rangers and the Scottish Ambulance Service.
Under the scheme, pupils get a guided trip around areas of natural beauty in Aberdeen and then speak with emergency service staff on the impact of deliberate fires.
The proactive programme has helped record a reduction in deliberate fires in the city.
Walks and TalksThe fire service’s crew commander, Euan Cargill, helps organise the partnership.
He said: “This has come a long way since it started and has been effective in helping to reduce and keep down the number of deliberate and wilful fires in these areas.
“The fire service and countryside rangers have worked closely on developing this project and have learned a great deal from each other while both planning and implementing this worthwhile cause.
“I’m delighted at how well the partner agencies have come together, pulled resources and worked as a team to deliver this.”
The children are taken around a number of local areas on the walks – including the Gramps nature reserve, which has frequently been targeted by deliberate blazes over the years.
Inspector George Nixon, from the Nigg community policing team, last night praised efforts to clamp down on the problem.
He said: “Setting illegal fires is dangerous and destructive.
“However, this fantastic initiative allows us to take the young people out into the areas most affected to show them first hand just how widely the consequences of a fire can be felt.”
Yesterday, police confirmed that a 16-year-old boy was arrested and charged in connection with two fires at the Gramps.
The teenager was accused of deliberately setting fires there at 9.20am on February 12 and at 5pm on February 21.
