Tackling a Burning Issue
NUISANCE fires on a Middlesbrough estate are set to be damped down by close partnership working.
A drastic rise in the amount of bonfires being sparked in the run up to 5th November has been seen in Hemlington throughout September and October.
Successful action has already been taken to curb the issue, including the identification of 11 perpetrators, who are due to sign acceptable behaviour contracts shortly.
Erimus Housing’s initiative to slash wheelie bin fires by locking the bins to posts to avoid them being stolen and set on fire has also proved to be a success.
Now more moves have been made by the landlord in partnership with Cleveland Fire Brigade, Cleveland Police, Safe in Tees Valley and Middlesbrough Council’s Neighbourhood Management team on the estate.
Susie Thompson, Group Director of Operations for Fabrick Housing Group, the parent company of Erimus Housing, said: “This issue is one that we and our partner agencies take very seriously and we will work together to deal with it, including getting out and about to meet people and educate them. We want to divert young people away from fire setting and provide advice and support to local residents to reduce the amount of nuisance fires.”
In October, Hemlington is currently the worst ward in the Cleveland Fire Brigade area for deliberate fire setting. In the first two weeks of the month, there were 12 nuisance fires which showed a 100% increase on last year’s figure of six.
In September this year, there were 20 deliberate fires in Hemlington, almost trebling last year’s figure of seven.
CCTV has already been increased in the area and on the evening of 22nd October, the Fire Brigade was out in the area with its community education vehicle and Cleveland Police had its forward command vehicle around the streets.
In addition, the Neighbourhood Safety Team used its neighbourhood safety trailer to speak to local people and the Safe in Tees Valley youth inclusion bus was also attracting young people on board.
Andy Witham, Station Manager at Coulby Newham Fire Station, said: “The high level of deliberately set fires is totally unacceptable. It is a drain on our valuable resources as it stops us from delivering our core services and keeping the community safe from fire.
“This multi agency approach shows the benefits of working together with a common purpose.”