Number of house fires down in Levenmouth... but work still to be done

The fire report was given to councillors at the most recent area committee meeting

An annual report by Methil fire station manager Stephen Thomson to councillors showed that between April 2015 and March 2016, there were 28 accidental home fires across the area – a seven per cent reduction from the previous year – with just four injuries, all resulting from the same incident.

However, over the same period, there was a 14 per cent increase in deliberate fire setting, with fire fighters called out to 128 incidents over the past year, compared with 112 in 2014-15.

Mr Thomson told councillors that despite the decrease in accidental fires, the local officers were still keen to see that number reduce even further.

They will be working with Fife Council and the Community Safety Panel on a chip-pan amnesty which will educate people on safe use of the kitchen appliance and in certain cases, provide a new thermostatic-controlled one.

In terms of deliberate fire setting, he highlighted the work being done by the service locally, which included a clean-up near to the Fife Heritage Railway site – an area of concern for possible deliberate fires – and talking to youth groups and schools to educate them on the risks of fire setting.

Welcoming the report, Councillor Alistair Hunter praised the service for its ‘can-do’ attitude despite a number of changes over the past few years.