More than 200 deliberate fires have been started in South Tyneside since March 2025
The borough has seen a rise in deliberate fires.
Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFRS) and South Tyneside Council have issued a warning following a rise in deliberate fires across the borough.
Firefighters, alongside the local authority, are urging residents and businesses to be extra vigilant after recent figures show an increase in anti-social behaviour (ASB) deliberate fires.
TWFRS has stated that the increase relates to deliberate grassland, loose refuse, and tree shrub fires - with 207 incidents reported between March 2 and April 16.
By comparison to the same period in 2024, there were only 73 incidents reported.
Station Manager Jonathan Ramanayake, of Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service, has highlighted the danger that setting deliberate fires poses to the local community.
He said: “Deliberate fires don’t only create danger for residents and businesses in the surrounding communities, they also generate risk to life for the fire setters themselves.
“If our firefighters are dealing with incidents regarding deliberate fire setting, it means that when a fire in a building or other emergency is reported to us our resources are elsewhere, which could prove fatal.
“These particular incidents tend to increase during the half term holidays so we would urge parents and guardians to know where your children are during these times.
“We would even encourage people to look at what events and clubs are being delivered in the local community over the school holidays.”
Cllr Jim Foreman, Lead Member for Housing and Community Safety, has stated that more police officers will be deployed to problem areas in an effort to identify those responsible.
He commented: “While we understand that there are large groups of youths who gather socially and just want to hang about with their friends, it is the minority of individuals who do not consider the danger that they are putting themselves in as well as others when they are setting fires.
“We have made safe the areas that need attention until repairs can be made.
“The Community Safety Partnership is deploying more officers through Project Shield to identify these few people who are causing the problems.
“We work hand-in-hand with the fire, police and other partners, community groups and schools to take an early intervention and preventative approach as well as raising awareness about the consequences of anti-social behaviour and its effect on victims.
“There are plenty of positive activities that youths can engage in throughout the borough rather than causing ASB and criminal damage to their area.”
If anyone has information about incidents in their local area, they can report issues to FireStoppers anonymously on 0800 169 5558.
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