That more than three-quarters of fires in certain areas of South Wales over the last year were deliberately started, according to figures. Some of the hotspots include Blaenau Gwent, Newport, Merthyr Tydfil, and Caerphilly, where a significant proportion of fires were determined to be arson.
The data reveals that 42% of these deliberate fires involved refuse, 27% occurred in grass or scrubland, and 8% took place in buildings. These deliberate fires can divert resources away from other emergencies and pose risks to both people and property.
Fire service initiatives, educational programs, and public awareness campaigns are being implemented to address this issue and reduce the number of deliberate fires.