CAMBRIDGESHIRE Fire and Rescue Service is urging the public to stay vigilant after 12 stack fires in the county over the weekend. In the Fenland District there were two stack fires. One was in Chatteris on Saturday (16 September) near to the A142, which t

CAMBRIDGESHIRE Fire and Rescue Service is urging the public to stay vigilant after 12 stack fires in the county over the weekend.

In the Fenland District there were two stack fires. One was in Chatteris on Saturday (16 September) near to the A142, which the Service was alerted to at 9pm and had under control by 3.55am. Crews from Manea and Chatteris attended and 25 tonnes of straw was dealt with.

Another fire on Saturday (16 September) was in March Road, Turves where a crew from Whittlesey attended to control 50 tonnes of straw on fire. The Service was called at 12.30am and the fire was under control by 2am. It is believed that both of these fires were started deliberately.

In the East Cambridge area there were three stack fires. A crew from Littleport attended a 20 tonne stack fire in Grange Lane Littleport on the Saturday (16 September). The Service was called at 10.40pm and the fire was under control by 2.30am.

There was another stack fire was in Brandon Creek near to Littleport on Sunday (17 September). The Service was called at 2.05am and had the fire under control by 5.30am. Crews from Ely and Downham Market attended the fire which was so close to overhead cables that they melted.

The other stack fire was in Upware Road, Upware on Sunday (17 September). A crew from Soham was called to the scene at 1am and the fire was under control by 6.30am. 20 bales of straw were well alight and the police were informed as it is believed all these fires in East Cambridge were started deliberately.

In the South Cambridge there was one fire on Saturday (16 September) at 11pm. The Service was called to stack fire near the A603 junction with A1198 near Wimpole. Crews from Gamblingay and Papworth attended to control 200 tonnes of baled straw. The farmer helped the crew using a teleporter to spread the stack to stop the fire spreading.

In the Peterborough area there were four stack fires. Crews from Dogsthorpe and Thorney attended the first two were on Sunday (17 September) in Newborough. One was 25 tonnes of straw well alight on Middle Road. The Service was called at 2.15pm and had the fire under control by 3.30pm.

The other was on Drain Road and was under control shortly after the fire on Middle Road. It is believed that these fires are also deliberate and the police have been informed

Another two were in King Street, Helpston on the Monday (18 September). The first was four hay bales which were called in at 8.15am and under control by 9am. Upon leaving this fire the crew from Dogsthorpe came across another stack fire of four hay bales at 9am. On both fire drags and hose reels were used to get the fires under control.

In the Huntingdon area there were two stack fires on Monday (18 September). One was on the B1090 in Woodwalton.

The Service was called at 12.06pm and the fire was under control by 12.36pm. Crews from Sawtry and Huntingdon attended where 100 tonnes of straw bales were well alight. The farmer assisted the crews by ploughing round the fire to stop it spreading.

The other stack fire was 800 tonnes on the A428 between Croxton and Eynesbury. A crew from St Neots was informed at 1pm and are supervising this fire as it is close to woods and overhead wires.

It is believed that both of these fires were deliberate and the police have been informed.

Director of Community Safety, Lawrie Booth said: "After these incidents we are urging the local community to stay vigilant to suspicious behaviour in and around these areas.

"Stack fires have the potential to be very dangerous, ruining property as well as risking lives. Whilst our firefighters are out dealing with these deliberate fires it means that it could take them longer to attend another incident.

"It is important to inform the police if you see any suspicious behaviour."

If anyone has any information about who was responsible for any of these fires over the weekend, they can contact the Police on 0845 456 4564 or they can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. You do not have to give your name and you may be entitled to a cash reward.