Oakwood, Deliberate Fires

Since 29 March 2021, Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service has attended 22 fires on open ground in Oakwood, Derby, with many being in and around Chaddesden Woods.

Outdoor fires can cause a lot more harm than people think, as they not only effect local wildlife and make community spaces unusable, they also keep Firefighters away from potentially life threatening incidents such as house fires and road traffic accidents.

Group Manager Kevin Page said: “We’d like to urge people to talk to their friends, relatives and children about the dangers of setting fires, and the knock on effects they can have. The fires may not be set to cause harm, but can spread quickly and easily and can become a serious threat and danger to people, property and the environment.

“If you or someone you know has any information on the recent fires please report it anonymously to FireStoppers on 0800 169 5558, or via the website. Any information you can provide can help us prevent such fires in the future.”

Sergeant Rachel Fowkes said: “We’ve seen a lot of deliberate fires in Derwent and Oakwood in the last few months. Some of them are people starting campfires with their friends, and some are people deliberately trying to cause damage.

“Setting fires can be really dangerous as well as causing damage to outdoor spaces where they are lit.

“We want people to be able to get out with their friends and enjoy themselves now that restrictions are easing. All we ask is that you do it safely and that you respect your local area and other people who live there.

“It’s not worth risking someone’s life or getting into trouble over starting a fire.

“We’ll be doing extra patrols in the affected areas so if you have any questions, please come and say hello to us – we’ll be happy to talk to you.”

Over the coming weeks, Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service will also be undertaking additional prevention work in the area, including talking to local residents, visiting local schools, and displaying safety boards.