A CRISIS team has been set up to tackle a sharp increase in arson attacks across Mid Cheshire.
Cars, wheelie bins, phone boxes and bus shelters are all being targeted by arsonists - and fire chiefs say the blazes are putting lives at risk.
Now the Vale Royal Arson Task Force, which has seen fire chiefs join forces with police and local authorities, is aiming to extinguish the problem.
Alex Waller, station manager at Winsford and Northwich, said: 'Last year we had 632 deliberate fires in Vale Royal, 465 of which were small blazes involving things like wheelie bins.
'Arson, no matter how small, is a major problem. The fires cause damage to property and even the seemingly insignificant ones put lives in danger because they tie up precious resources that may be required for emergencies.
'Wheelie bin fires are a big problem - in Winsford alone we had 52 last year. We urge the public to put the bin out on the morning which it is collected and not the night before, and ensure it is not stored adjacent to a building or vehicle, because if it gets torched the fire could spread and damage property.'
The task force involves Cheshire Fire Service, police Community Action Teams, Weaver Vale Housing Trust and Vale Royal Borough Council. Bosses will meet once a month to discuss ways of tackling the escalation in nuisance fires, usually at night and at weekends.
Business Watch officer Robin Curry said: 'There has been a significant increase in the number of arson incidents in January, mainly in the rural areas between Winsford and Northwich.
'The targets are relatively minor but the frequency and increase in severity are worrying.
'There has also been a spate of arson attacks on stolen cars in the last few weeks, particularly in the Winsford area. Cars are stolen and driven around for a couple of days and then torched. Mostly the cars are left unlocked with the keys in the ignition, so always secure your vehicles.'
