Flames aren't Games billboard in Tunstall - 64% of grass fires started during the easter break

A billboard asserting that Flames Aren’t Games is set to be erected on High Street in Tunstall on April 2.

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service are positioning four billboards near to known grass fire hotspots around the county.

The Flames Aren’t Games grass fires campaign was re-launched earlier this week in anticipation of a dry Easter break which typically sees the Service over-run with grass fires.

Head of Risk Reduction, Glynn Luznyj said: “We tend to see a sharp increase of deliberately started grass fires during the Easter holidays and Stoke-on-Trent is always the highest hit area in the whole of Staffordshire.

“This year we are asking parents to help us in educating their children about the dangers and consequences of starting grass fires. Local firefighters have also visited schools in the area to talk to the children about fire safety before they broke up for Easter.”

Last year, almost one quarter of the 1,191 grass fires in Staffordshire were in Stoke-on-Trent and a shocking 64% of April’s grass fires took place during the two week Easter break.

Glynn added: “Prominent locations have been chosen to display the posters on the billboards which will result in a high number of people seeing them. Young people need to realise that starting grass fires is not a game and if caught they face prosecution by Staffordshire Police.”

www.staffordshirefire.gov.uk