THE number of fires being started deliberately in Dunfermline and West Fife has rocketed in the space of a year. 

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said the figures for the Kingdom had reached a “five-year high” with the majority of incidents between 7-9pm at weekends. 

In the Dunfermline area, there was a 35 per cent increase from 101 deliberate fires in 2016-17 to 137 in 2017-18.

And there was a 38 per cent rise in South West Fife, which includes Rosyth, Inverkeithing, Dalgety Bay, Aberdour and the West Fife villages, from 85 to 118. 

Fire chief Roddie Keith said in a report: “We continue to target schools in high-activity areas to deliver talks regarding the dangers and consequences of deliberate fire-setting.

"These talks take place normally in April and October, which are the peak periods of activity.”

He said they were also working with Police Scotland and Fife Council to try to prevent further incidents and were advising firms with town-centre premises on refuse storage and security “which can be a cause of deliberate fires”. 

His report to councillors said the majority of incidents were ‘secondary’ fires, which are often minor and include the burning of rubbish, grass and derelict properties. 

‘Primary’ fires generally involve property such as buildings, caravans, vehicles, plant and machinery.

The highest number of incidents in this area was in the West Fife & Coastal Villages ward, with 50 deliberate fires, followed by Dunfermline South, Dunfermline Central, Rosyth, Inverkeithing & Dalgety Bay, and Dunfermline North.