OVER £40 Million goes up in smoke each year due to outdoor fires, many of which result from careless or irresponsible behaviour, with the Easter Weekend one of the busiest of the year for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS).

Firefighters attend over 22,000 calls every year to fires involving rubbish bins, refuse skips and grass or heathland. The incidents can spread to homes and business properties, placing people at risk. There have been several bin, skip and grass fires across East Ayrshire in recent weeks.

Commercial skips, household waste bins and illegal dumping of waste materials provide a ready source of combustible materials for opportunistic fire setters and as the weather improves so will the number of people heading for the countryside over the Easter Holidays.

At this time of year grass and woodland areas are high risk for fires.

SFRS is asking people to be aware of the heightened risk of fire and to act safely and responsibly if they visit the countryside this weekend.

With keeping the public safe the main concern for SFRS officers people are being warned of the dangers of starting fires.

Firefighters are working with communities, local authorities, businesses and the police to minimise the opportunity for deliberate fire-setting and see those responsible held to account for their dangerous, criminal actions. As well as risking lives, deliberate fire-setting wastes public money and also causes significant health and environmental risks.

To protect communities throughout Scotland, SFRS is asking communities and businesses to join Scotland’s fight against fire by safely managing and disposing of waste to prevent fires and by helping identify and report offenders.

Anyone who has information on people involved in deliberate fire setting should contact the police via the non-emergency number 101. Information can also be given anonymously by calling Crimestoppers Scotland on 0800 555 111