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Warning issued as figures reveal almost 1,700 deliberate fires set in north-east

Firefighters tackle the blaze at Glen O'Dee Hospital in Banchory.
Firefighters tackle the blaze at Glen O'Dee Hospital in Banchory.

Thousands of fires are being started on purpose across the north-east as firefighters attempt to combat natural blazes brought on by soaring temperatures.

Shock new figures show there have been almost 1,700 deliberate fires in the north-east in the past three years.

Across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire there have been 1,656 blazes started deliberately.

Ian Findlay, the fire service’s local senior officer for Aberdeenshire and Moray, said the service works closely with police to catch those responsible, and warned each blaze has consequences.

“Deliberate fires put unnecessary pressure on firefighters when genuine emergencies arose and could have placed lives at risk,” he said.

“These incidents are completely unacceptable. Every deliberate fire has victims, costs – and consequences.”

The statistics have been released by the Tories as emergency services across the country battle wildfires sparked by weeks of stiflingly hot temperatures.

Last weekend, fire crews were called to Bennachie after a huge blaze broke out which is believed to have been sparked by a discarded cigarette.

And in Golspie in the Highlands, scores of firefighters battled a huge inferno for three days.

But deliberate fires are also keeping fire crews across the region busy.

In June, the former Grandholm Bowling Club was left in ruins after vandals torched the building, in Bridge of Don, and its roof collapsed.

The facility was established in 1920 but was the target of a string of deliberate fires in recent years leading its members to abandon their beloved club 12 months ago.

Last November, three youths were charged for torching the disused Cordyce School in Aberdeen – which is now to be bulldozed.

And in October 2016, a huge fire destroyed the derelict Glen O’Dee Hospital in Banchory despite crews working through the night to try and save the Edwardian building.

Two teens charged after blaze that destroyed historic north-east hospital

Two teens were subsequently charged with setting the fire.

Andrew Bowie, West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine MP, said the figures showed there were still too many people who did not understand that their actions could put lives at risk.

He said: “The continuing high number of deliberate fires across the region is a great concern.

“No one can ever know exactly what can happen when one is lit without safeguards.

“To do so without consideration for the lives and property of others is no excuse in the eyes of the law.”

The MP also warned that these blazes could divert vital resources at a time when firefighters were battling wildfires across the north and north-east because of the continued stifling temperatures the region has been experiencdiung.

“Fire personnel prefer preventing blazes than fighting them,” he added.

The bowling club had to close its doors because it could not afford to replace equipment that had been lost in the fire, despite being close to its centenary year,

Eric Jamieson, former secretary, said: “We just couldn’t continue on after a while. It’s history now, there’s nothing more we can do, it’s just disappointing.”

The fire service’s Mr Findlay urged people to play their part in reducing the occurrence of deliberate blazes.

He said: “We take a zero tolerance approach to these incidents and work closely with our partners including Police Scotland in an effort to trace anyone involved in this unacceptable behaviour.

“Our firefighters work hard every day to engage with the public and promote safety messages in order to keep our communities as safe as possible.

“In addition, we would ask local residents and businesses to help us by ensuring that rubbish does not accumulate outside their property and that wheelie bins are stored in a safe and secure area until collection.”