THE number of arson incidents in Cambridgeshire has fallen – but the cost of dealing with the fires still amounted to £14million. For the year 2005/06, there has been a significant reduction overall in arson attacks on homes and vehicles. The total number

THE number of arson incidents in Cambridgeshire has fallen - but the cost of dealing with the fires still amounted to £14million.

For the year 2005/06, there has been a significant reduction overall in arson attacks on homes and vehicles.

The total number of deliberate fires was down 2.5 per cent, while vehicle fires were reduced by 14 per cent, but there was a countywide increase of seven per cent in the number of deliberate small fires.

In Fenland, the number of arson attacks had reduced from 261 for 2004/05 to 254 for 2005/06.

The district also saw 24 fewer car fires than the previous year, with this year's figure set at 96.

There was a rise of 18 deliberate fires bringing the total for Fenland to 135.

The cost to all the agencies in Fenland which deal with the three main categories of arson, which includes vehicle crime, residential and commercial premises, was £2.4m.

As part of the drive to reduce arson attacks in

Fenland, fire officers have been working with housing associations and the local council to inform residents of the risk of arson.

Firefighters at Wisbech have also been working with young people excluded from school and have run two training schemes similar to fire cadet schemes, where youngsters learn the dangers of starting fires.