Is your child an arsonist?

Arsonists have been blamed for four blazes in recent weeks including:

A massive blaze which lasted three days and destroyed £2m-worth of stock and machinery at Helen Smith'sf Brecks Lane Farm, in East Herringthorpe.
A barge which was set alight on the canal near Rotherham railway station.
Several acres of crops set alight off Priestley Avenue, Rawmarsh.
Hay bales and a crop set alight at another farm off Ullswater Road, Mexborough.

South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue’s head of community safety, Steve Makepeace, said: “We’d ask that parents look out for the tell-tale signs of fire setting and contact us for advice, before it becomes a serious problem.

“These signs might include small burns around the home, matches or lighters going missing or an unusual fascination with fire.”

Mr Makepeace insisted that the number of arsons had fallen in recent years but said that crews in South Yorkshire still attended more than 5,000 each year.

He added: “People maliciously starting fires can have no appreciation of the potential consequences of their actions.

“We’ve had tragedies before in South Yorkshire where people have died, either as a result of a small fire getting out of control, or because our fire engines were busy elsewhere dealing with one of these incidents.”

People can report potential arson risks, such as rubbish and fly tipping, at www.syfire.gov.uk.

Farmer faces ruin after arsonists torch barn.