Arson costs the UK economy millions every year. The report below came from Teesside, showing the effect on the local economy:
Arson on Teesside costs the local economy up to £16.7m a year, latest figures have shown.
Cleveland Fire Brigade has begun a crackdown on arson, which it says accounted for 75% of "fire-related incidents" on Teesside last year. It has issued posters and leaflets and arranged activities for young people.
The launch of the campaign coincides with the start of the school summer holidays when the number of reported arson incidents normally increases.
Cleveland Fire Brigade's Phil Lancaster said: "Deliberate fire setting ruins lives, ruins communities, ruins local businesses and we are encouraging people to say 'enough is enough'.
"Although we have seen a reduction in the number of incidents of arson, the large majority of fires in the Cleveland area are still arson-related and we are determined to do everything we can to put an end to it."
In total last year there were 3,029 arson call-outs across the Cleveland Fire Brigade area.
The location for the campaign launch is Eston Hills - the scene of 240 fires last year - when firefighters will come together with Cleveland Police and council neighbourhood officers to highlight the dangers of arson......Story
Update - 14.08.12
Fire chiefs in Teeside have confirmed that the blaze that broke out at the Jigsaw wood recycling plant in Port Clarence earlier this year has cost the taxpayer some £750,000.
The fire was started deliberately on March 10th and emergency crews spent eight days bringing the flames under control and a further day damping down the site.
In total 24 fire appliances spent more than 2,800 hours at the facility, bringing the total bill for the arson attack to £741,492.90. At one time there were ten fire crews at the scene pumping water directly from the River Tees.
Phil Lancaster, director of community protection at Cleveland Fire Brigade, said: "The fire at the Jigsaw plant demonstrates just how much arson is costing Cleveland Fire Brigade and ultimately the taxpayers of Cleveland."
He said this money would be much better spent on boosting fire safety and prevention.
In 2011-12 more than 3,000 fires were started deliberately in Cleveland, which coat almost £17 million for firefighters to deal with.
A robust fire safety management regime, well trained staff and an up to date Fire Risk Assessment can help to reduce the risk of arson to your premises. For advice on fire safety call FSS Ltd on 01246 434 314 or mail us at chris.maher@fire-safety-specialists.co.uk