Arsonists have cost taxpayers in Caerphilly County Borough more than £178,000 in just six weeks by lighting grass fires.
The number of deliberate grass fires was up a staggering 892% in the first week of April compared to last year across the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service region.
There were 90 deliberate fires across the county borough between March 1 and April 13, already more than the 72 lit during the whole two months last year.
Senior firefighters have warned that the fires could divert crews away from life-threatening situations.
Nigel Williams, Wildfire Officer for South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, said: “Deliberate grass fires are dangerous and unpredictable, they can quickly spread out of control.
“Firefighters battle against them under arduous conditions, with fires spreading across difficult and sometimes inaccessible terrain.
“The Easter holiday period traditionally sees the number of deliberately set grass and mountain soar and results in South Wales’ fire crews being stretched to breaking point, which can impact on us responding to more serious fires or road traffic collisions in our area.”
The fires can also damage large swathes of the countryside, with a fire on Rudry Mountain on April 13 destroying hectares of grass and vegetation, while a blaze on Llanbradach mountain on April 7 covered an area of 400 metres by 400 metres.
Despite the spike in arson attacks, it is believed the number of arrests for lighting grass fires is low, with possibly none at all.
A Gwent Police spokesperson said they were unable to confirm the number of arrests made.
Caerphilly Inspector Gareth Jones said: “Deliberately set grass fires not only blight the countryside, wildlife and the environment, they present a very real danger to members of the public and can quickly get out of hand.
“We work closely with South Wales Fire and Rescue to support initiatives such as Project Bernie with a focus on awareness raising and education about the consequences of deliberately setting grass fires.
“Offenders not only have to live with the consequences of the damage and, possibly, the injury caused, they will also face prosecution which could result in a custodial sentence.”
Add this cost to the £250,000 the council spent on illegal covert surveillance of employees & it’s even more shocking.
And don’t forget the £400’000 a year gardening leave being paid to Perkins, Barnett and O’Sulllivan – little wonder they’re cutting services, hiking up car parking charges and bashing us all with massive council tax increases, I hope the good residents of Caerphilly remember all this wasted money and mismanagement come polling day.
Well said Paul. We forgot to mention the car payments made to senior managers which makes the total truly eye watering. But, what really grinds my gears is the weakness of the elected officers who seem complicit in the mess we’re in rather than taking control of mismanagement. These same councillors will soon be doorstepping us for our vote promising the world. Ty Penallta is rotten to the core & I also hope the good people vote for profound change.
Yes and don’t forget the cost of all of the legal battles the council has had to fight following the pay scandal. Nor the shocking pay rises given to senior councillors.
Add this cost to the £250,000 the council spent on illegal covert surveillance of employees & it’s even more shocking.
And don’t forget the £400’000 a year gardening leave being paid to Perkins, Barnett and O’Sulllivan – little wonder they’re cutting services, hiking up car parking charges and bashing us all with massive council tax increases, I hope the good residents of Caerphilly remember all this wasted money and mismanagement come polling day.
Well said Paul. We forgot to mention the car payments made to senior managers which makes the total truly eye watering. But, what really grinds my gears is the weakness of the elected officers who seem complicit in the mess we’re in rather than taking control of mismanagement. These same councillors will soon be doorstepping us for our vote promising the world. Ty Penallta is rotten to the core & I also hope the good people vote for profound change.
Yes and don’t forget the cost of all of the legal battles the council has had to fight following the pay scandal. Nor the shocking pay rises given to senior councillors.
My question how can caerphily county borough say that £178.000 of tax payers money being wasted on grass fires when fire men are at their station and are already being paid for i.e being at work and that if no emergency calls come in for reported house fires then I cannot see how the money is being wasted when they attend these grass fires I understand that their first priority is to save lives but if their being paid while waiting for life threatening ocurences then I don’t see how it’s costing tax payers more
I think a figure could be drawn up for the cost of water used or the cost of petrol in transporting the firemen and equipment from the station to the scene.
I have never been in the Fire Brigade but I think this is how the cost piles up.
When a call comes in the duty crew responds, as you say this costs little as they are on standby anyway. The missing crew needs to be replaced, to cover further emergency calls. This crew is made up of part timers who are called in the man the station and are paid for this work.
That is where the cost starts to increase and these calculations are probably based on the wages being paid out to the part time crews as a result of grass fires..
My question how can caerphily county borough say that £178.000 of tax payers money being wasted on grass fires when fire men are at their station and are already being paid for i.e being at work and that if no emergency calls come in for reported house fires then I cannot see how the money is being wasted when they attend these grass fires I understand that their first priority is to save lives but if their being paid while waiting for life threatening ocurences then I don’t see how it’s costing tax payers more
I think a figure could be drawn up for the cost of water used or the cost of petrol in transporting the firemen and equipment from the station to the scene.
I have never been in the Fire Brigade but I think this is how the cost piles up.
When a call comes in the duty crew responds, as you say this costs little as they are on standby anyway. The missing crew needs to be replaced, to cover further emergency calls. This crew is made up of part timers who are called in the man the station and are paid for this work.
That is where the cost starts to increase and these calculations are probably based on the wages being paid out to the part time crews as a result of grass fires..