DELIBERATE fire setting is an offence, firefighters remind people in the Cowdenbeath-Lochgelly area with Bonfire Night approaching.

Over the Bonfire Night period in 2018 fire appliances across Scotland mobilised were almost 400 times a week in 2018, according to figures.

Firefighters responded to 1,307 such incidents in the four weeks leading up to November 5, 2018 – causing fire appliances to be mobilised almost 1,500 times and some of these were in the Central Fife area.

Deliberate fire setting is an offence in Scotland, ACO Ross Haggart reminded people of all ages.

He added: “We will continue to work with our communities to remind them of the dangers but equally in close partnership with our police and local authority partners to ensure that those responsible are identified and held to account for their actions.”

Crews across Scotland together clocked more than 24 hours attending the scene of deliberate fires every day during the four week period, with fire appliances mobilised from stations an average of more than 60 occasions each day.

Of the 1,307 total deliberate fires attended, this included 1,117 secondary fires within grassland, open ground or refuse and 190 primary fires, such as those within a house or business.

ACO Haggart outlined how prevention and education is key to community safety: “We take great pride in working at the very heart of our communities to help keep people safe and I am pleased to see the continued reduction in the number of deliberate fires.

"We will never be complacent and we will continue to remind people that deliberate fire setting is a crime and that a criminal record can affect future life and job opportunities – a price that can be easily avoided.”