Officers from SFRS have reported increased incidents of fire raising during the recent hot weather across South Lanarkshire, particularly around residential and wooded areas.

Items from local businesses and homes left out for uplift or disposed of carelessly have been taken into local woods to be set on fire, causing damage to the environment and affecting the wildlife too.

Some fires have even been lit close to buildings and homes. This causes a real risk to the surrounding residents and carries a high risk of injury for those setting the fires as well as for the fires spreading.

In partnership with the council’s Joint Problem Solving Unit, Local Area Housing Teams and Grounds Services, SFRS Community Action Team officers are keen to engage with local communities and businesses about how they can help make their community a safer and more enjoyable place to live.

Why don’t you come along and speak to the teams when they are in your area on Wednesday afternoons throughout July and August? The events will be at:

• East Kilbride – Wednesday 19 July – 2pm – Murray Square, Strathcona Lane Lockups
• Cambuslang/Rutherglen – Wednesday 26 July – 2pm – Whitlawburn, Western Road
• Hamilton – Wednesday 2 August – 2pm – Eddlewood Park
• Clydesdale – Wednesday 9 August – 2pm –Smyllum Road (Shops beside Healthy Valleys)

From 2pm for 1-2 hours, a fully crewed Fire Appliance will be there, always popular with the younger members of the community, as well as officers from the council on hand to provide advice, information and assistance with fly-tipping and antisocial behaviour alongside the SFRS Community Action Team who will be on hand to provide information on Fire Safety.