Firestarters strike again (From Chard & Ilminster News)

Firestarters strike again

5:20pm Wednesday 31st December 2008 in Chard By Steve Sowden

FURIOUS fire chiefs have again warned arsonists they are ‘playing with fire’ after yet another car was set alight in Chard.

Officers fear someone will be seriously injured or killed following the latest deliberate car blaze in the town.

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service was alerted during the early hours of Saturday morning to reports of a car on fire in Coles Place. The blaze spread to a fence and shed, both of which were damaged in the incident.

Two crews from Chard attended the incident and reported that the interior of the car had been completely destroyed by fire.

A fire service spokesman confirmed: “The cause is believed to have been deliberate.”

The town has been plagued with arson attacks on vehicles with Saturday’s taking the total to nearly 40 in the past 12 months.

There have been repeated appeals from firefighters and police in Chard, Ilminster and Crewkerne for the attacks to stop bef-ore the arsonists’ antics end in tragedy.

The fire service spokesman added: “Clearly deliberate fire setting is dangerous and has the potential to injure someone but it also pulls emergency fire appliances away from dealing with other life-critical emergencies such as road traffic collisions in which people may be trapped.

“We cannot be in two places at once and delays will occur while fire engines come from neighbouring fire stations.

“Arson is a serious crime and has the potential to see arsonists sent to prison for lengthy periods measured in years up to and including life.

“The results of arson and deliberate fire setting are uncontrollable and indiscriminate in what property may be damaged or towards who may be killed or injured.”

It is not just a concern of human cost in terms of physical injury, as latest Government figures on the cost of arson show that the financial costs are significant, totalling thousands borne by members of the public through council tax and business rate payers as well as through increased insurance premiums.

n IF anyone knows or has information which could lead to the arrest of the person or people involved in car arson attacks in the Chard, Ilminster or Crewkerne area please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.