FIREFIGHTERS believe a campaign to shock young people about the dangers of starting blazes has caused a drop in the number of deliberate fires.

Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) launched a hard-hitting poster campaign and visited schools and youth clubs in Dartford after a spate of fires at Dartford Heath and the Bridge Estate.

In May and June there were 23 fires at the heath, while there were 20 blazes on the estate in July and early August, and KFRS believes all were started deliberately.

However, since August 9 there have been a total of only three of these suspected deliberate blazes, all at the heath, and firefighters believe this is due to their campaign.

Dartford fire station manager Phil Rice said: “The summer months are often a problem for our fire crews but when the trend of deliberate fires started in early May, we were quick to respond with a number of schemes.

“Our main aim is to educate youngsters about the dangers of starting fires, but there is also a warning to the whole community that arson is a criminal offence which carries a large fine and possibly a jail sentence.”

The poster shows the horrific burns suffered by firefighter Mat Barney when he tackled a grass fire at the heath in July 2005, and has been pinned up around Dartford.

To help the campaign, Kent Police is holding street surgeries to encourage residents to report suspected arsonisits and Dartford Council wardens are regularly patrolling the heath and estate.