POLICE in West Dunbartonshire are joining forces with firefighters and council bosses in a bid to tackle a spate of deliberate fires in the area.
There were 30 reports of wilful fire-raising within West Dunbartonshire between April and September this year, police say.
While that's fewer than the 44 incidents recorded during the same period in 2021, police have acknowledged that the high-profile nature of several of the deliberate fires in the area this year will have had a greater impact on the community.
And while 11 individuals were identified by police in connection with last year's fires, this year a suspect has been identified in just five cases.
Superintendent Lorna Gibson said: “Whilst there have been fewer fire-raising reports this year, the partnership acknowledges they have had a more significant community impact.
"We have witnessed fire damage within school grounds and also a large fire at a former care home, which required the evacuation of local residents.
“Our officers investigate every instance of wilful fire-raising thoroughly and regularly work to provide guidance and address concerns throughout the local community, but it became evident that the issue of fire-raising was a priority.
"Our Police Scotland Youth Volunteers have also been delivering leaflets to areas previously targeted, to offer advice and reassurance to the public.
“The partnership has provided all educational establishments across the area with crime prevention advice to make them more secure, whilst police have been attending schools to increase our youth engagement, alongside Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.”
The partnership says it will work to identify derelict premises in the community which may pose a risk of fire to ensure owners are contacted and reminded of their responsibilities in terms of securing their properties.
Area Commander Joe McKay, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service's local senior officer for West Dunbartonshire and Argyll & Bute, said: "The consequences of deliberate fire-setting can be devastating.
"Fires have the potential to cause serious injury or death, as well as extensive damage to properties and our environment.
"We will continue to work with partner agencies to engage with young people to make them aware of the risks of this type of behaviour."
The joint pledge comes as an urgent appeal was launched after a children's play hut was burned down at a primary school in Clydebank in the latest attack by firebugs at the area's schools.
Police were called to Edinbarnet Primary School, in Faifley, at around 3.30pm on Monday, September 26, after receiving reports that a wooden structure was on fire.
A fire also destroyed a hut housing play equipment at Gavinburn Early Learning and Childcare Centre in Old Kilpatrick in June this year.
And in the spring there was a spate of fires in Alexandria and Bonhill - followed in September by a blaze at a unit on the Lomond Industrial Estate.
Councillor Martin Rooney, leader of West Dunbartonshire Council and chair of the area's community planning partnership, said: “We are committed to working in partnership with Police Scotland and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to further reduce incidents of wilful fire-raising.
“Fire-raising in our communities is not only extremely dangerous, but it also destroys much-loved facilities which are costly to repair or replace.
"In West Dunbartonshire, this has included the grounds of our schools and early learning community centres, which negatively impacts upon our young people.
“We want to make the consequences of starting fires very clear and by working together we can ensure that message is understood far and wide.”
Anyone with information or concerns regarding fire-raising should call 101, or 999 in an emergency.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here