A GROUP of young people who started a fire and threw 36 aerosol cans onto it to cause explosions, and were rude and obstructive to fire crew, have been reported to the police.
The “seriously dangerous” incident took place last Saturday (June 16) and Minehead fire crew were called to the scene at lunchtime, in woodland at Hopcott Combe above the town.
Now they have issued an appeal, to anyone who knows those responsible, to “please, please” reiterate the risks they are placing themselves and others at.
The crew had to make its way to the incident on foot because of the location, and used a hose reel jet and tools to deal with the fire, which damaged four square metres of woodland.
“It was a deliberate fire in the open, some younger members of our community had started [it] deliberately, putting aerosol cans in amongst it, presumably to generate small explosions,” the fire crew said in a report.
“Apart from the obvious danger, they are putting themselves at if the cans explode, they also put other members of the community at risk, and indeed firefighters who attempt to deal with it – this is seriously dangerous."
The fire service said it had informed the police and enquiries would be made whether any potential offences had been committed.
“Setting fire to anything on other people’s property is arson and an offence,” the report said.
“Exposing firefighters or the public to unnecessary risk as a result of arson is even more serious.
“In some circumstances a custodial sentence in a young offenders institute, and a lifetime criminal record, can be imposed by the courts.”