Warning after youths set three fires near homes

Crews from Pontefract Station received calls at 8.30pm, 9pm and 9.10pm yesterday (March 23) to reports of three separate fires in Broomhill Crescent and Broomhill Avenue in Knottingley.

Watch Commander Richard Hames said gangs of youngsters had started the fires deliberately close to people’s homes.

He said: “Fire engines are getting fewer and fewer and if we are attending nuisance fire calls like these we are not available for house fires and road traffic accidents if people need us.

“Although the fires this time were quite small, it only takes a bit of sunny weather and dry grass and that one small fire can lead to a large fire not a million miles away from residential properties.”