CUMBRIA Fire and Rescue Service has attended over 7,000 incidents since 2019, a new investigation has revealed.

Figures obtained by Public Interest Lawyers found around 40 per cent of the overall 7,049 primary and secondary fires were deliberate.

Primary fires are potentially more serious fires that cause harm to people or damage to property.  Whereas secondary fires are generally small outdoor fires, not involving people or property and these include refuse fires, grassland fires and fires in derelict buildings or vehicles.

A FOI request submitted to Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service revealed they attended 1,443 primary and secondary fires, and a further 538 deliberately set fires from 2019 to 2020.

Two years later, this number increased to 1,603 primary and secondary fires with a further 673 deliberately set – despite restrictions and lockdowns during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Over the past year, the service has experienced a drop in the total of primary and secondary fires. The total is currently standing at 1,278 with the number of deliberate fires reaching 48.

(Image: Cumbria Fire incidents. Credit: Sam Quine) Based on research gathered, Barrow logged the most fires with 951 incidents.

Workington, Carlisle West and Carlisle East also each saw over 700 incidents take place.

(Image: Cumbria Fire areas. Credit: Sam Quine) Further research from Public Interest Lawyers found there have 20 deliberate fire injuries recorded by the Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service since 2019.

Deliberately set fires are dangerous and can lead to injuries and fatalities. They are also a criminal offence.

They commonly start by setting fire to bins, skips, fly-tipped waste, derelict buildings, dry grass and heathland.

Victims of deliberate fires may lose all their property, be made homeless or be seriously injured.

(Image: Injuries caused by deliberate fires. Credit: Sam Quine)