Concern over Stewartry fire stats

FIREFIGHTERS have expressed “concern” over a rise in deliberate fires in the Stewartry. In the first half of 2025/26, there were 43 blazes – ten of which were started intentionally. A fire service performance update report for the Stewartry, covering April 1-September 30, has been produced for next week’s Stewarty area committee. It states: “It is concerning to note an increase in deliberate fires during the reporting period, rising from six to ten compared with the previous year. “These incidents were confined to outdoor and refuse fires.” Fire chiefs confirmed that they recorded a total of 165 incidents in the Stewartry between April 1 and September 30 last year, representing a 30 percent increase compared with 127 incidents during the same period the previous year. The report states: “This increase reflects heightened demand for services and demonstrates the organisation’s continued readiness and capacity to respond effectively to community needs. “Of the 165 incidents, 43 were fire-related, marking an increase on the previous year. “While increases were observed across many incident categories, the most notable rise was in outdoor fires, which increased from 8 to 22. Building fires rose from 9 to 14.” Meanwhile, accidental house fires have increased marginally during this reporting period, rising from two to three incidents. Two of these fires were minor and none of them resulted in any casualties. Overall, non-fatal casualties have increased from six to nine, while the number of fatalities was two – which is unchanged from the same period the previous year. The report details how firefighters were called to 10 serious road traffic collisions (RTCs) in the first six months of last year. It states: “An increase of five RTCs has been recorded, compared with the same reporting period last year, with the total number rising from five to ten incidents. “It is saddening to report that two of these incidents resulted in fatalities, with a further seven non-fatal casualties recorded. “Analysis of incident locations has not identified any emerging trends. However, it is noted that casualties fell within the 17–29 and 60–69 age groups.”