Nearly half of 16,000 fires attended by Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service deliberate, data reveals

Nearly half the fires responded to by firefighters in Nottinghamshire since 2019 were deliberate, data has revealed.

Figures obtained through freedom of information requests by Public Interest Lawyers found that of the 16,044 primary and secondary fires attended by Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service in the past five years, 7,908 of those were started deliberately.

This accounts for 49.3% of the fires — which encompass both more serious fires that may cause harm to people or damage to property (primary fires), and fires not involving people or property, such as refuse fires, grassland fires, and fires in derelict buildings or vehicles (secondary fires).

In 2019-20, the service attended 3,049 primary and secondary fires, 1,520 of which were deliberate.

In 2020-21, 1,410 of the 2,886 fires were deliberate; in 2021-22 1,666 of 3,352 fires were started deliberately; and in 2022-23, 1,970 of 3,983 fires were deliberate.

Last year, 2023-24, the service attended 2,774 fires, of which 1,342 were deliberate.

Despite the drop in overall fires, which mirrors national trends, deliberate fires are said to account for a “worrying percentage” of incidents, Public Interest Lawyers have said.

Deliberately set fires are dangerous and a criminal offence, which waste time, money and keep fire crews away from real emergencies.

They commonly include bins, skips, fly-tipped waste, derelict buildings, dry grass and heathland.