The message from County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service (CDDFRS) comes when temperatures are rising and ahead of the school summer holidays, which is when crews typically see a rise in the number of arson incidents.
Bishop Auckland Station Manager Wayne Thompson said that 92% of the fires crews at his station attended in April, May and June last year were deliberate (126) and took place in three key areas: West Auckland, Bishop Auckland Town, Dene Valley.
In Bishop Auckland last year there were 371 deliberate fires in total and so far in 2026 there have been 40.
Station Manager Thompson said: “We want to highlight the dangers of deliberate fire setting and the serious consequences that burn on long after the flames have gone out.
“During the school holidays and when the weather is nice, we typically see a spike in the number of deliberate incidents we attend.
“Kids might think that setting fire to a bin or bit of grass is just a bit of fun.
“But we want to stress that not only are they putting themselves and others at risk of injury, but they could also be preventing crews from being available to attend critical incidents like house fires, road traffic collisions, water related incidents.”
The Service has stressed that arson is a crime that can result in prosecution and may have lasting implications for future education and employment opportunities.
CDDFRS is encouraging parents and families to talk to their children and young people about the dangers and serious consequences of setting deliberate fires.
The Service and Durham Constabulary carry out regular patrols of hotspot areas in Bishop Auckland to deter further incidents and provide reassurance to residents.
Anyone with information on deliberate fires in their area can report it anonymously by calling FireStoppers on 0800 169 5558 or by visiting www.firestoppersreport.co.uk.
Caption: Firefighters tackling a deliberate fire in Bishop Auckland.
