Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service crews put out two 'deliberate' fires in Stoke-on-Trent woodland last week.

It comes after two appliances were called to an area of woodland off Thornhill Road, Bentilee, at 8.20pm on Thursday 2 April.

Crews found two fires, one measuring 20 metres by 10 metres and one measuring five metres by five metres, which were extinguished using backpacks and beaters.

Nobody was reported injured and the cause of the fires was deemed to be "deliberate".

Head of Prevent, Protect and Partnerships, Ian Read, said: "As the weather gets warmer, the risk of outdoor fire increases because the grass gets very dry, meaning fires can start and spread more quickly.

"This means that what might start as a bit of fun can have catastrophic consequences and put lives in danger.

"I would urge parents to speak to their children about the dangers of deliberately setting fires; it is an offence and we will support investigations by colleagues from Staffordshire Police."

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service are now stressing the dangers of deliberately setting fires after being called "to around 30 outdoor fires" over the Easter weekend "many of which were preventable".

advertisement

A spokesperson for Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service said: "A small outdoor fire can quickly get out of hand, especially in dry weather, and cause extensive damage to landscapes, wildlife and communities.

"They also put a strain on our firefighters, who are often dealing with increased demand brought on by drier weather."

For more outdoor safety tips, visit Safety outside.