ONE of the country’s most senior firefighters has pleaded with Scots not to scar their home towns by setting deliberate fires.

Firefighters attend approximately 12,000 deliberate started fires every year across Scotland.

These potentially devastating incidents can put lives at risk, destroy properties, have an adverse impact on the environment and damage green space.

David Dourley, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s Head of Fire Investigation, said: “It’s frustrating because deliberate fire setting is a needless act and puts lives at risk. Individuals involved, or near the event, are at risk and the risk of injury to our hard-working crews is increased.

“Road users are also put at unnecessary risk as we make our way to an incident. 

“Deliberate fire setting is antisocial behaviour.”

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