Deliberate fires have increased due to Covid, and understanding why this trend appears in the wake of the pandemic is essential for building resilience and safety. In Fife, a striking spike in intentional fire-setting last year prompted questions about how public health crises intersect with community safety. This blog post offers an overview of the rise, explores contributing factors, considers the impact on fire services, and outlines practical steps communities can take to reduce such incidents.
Introduction: Why this topic matters
The pandemic disrupted daily life in ways that extended beyond health concerns. Lockdowns, school closures, and shifts in routine created a social landscape that could inadvertently influence risky behaviours, including deliberate fires. By examining the specific context of Fife and the period between April and September 2020, we can learn valuable lessons about prevention, resilience, and collaborative action. The core message is simple: deliberate fires have increased due to Covid, and proactive, data-informed strategies are needed to protect communities.
Understanding the rise: what the numbers tell us
Between April and September 2020, Fife reported a notable uptick in fire incidents. The data show:
- 17 additional fires involving structures, including buildings and cars, compared with the same period the previous year
- 47 secondary fires in the same comparative window
These figures illustrate that the pandemic’s disruptions may translate into higher risk for communities. The statistics hint at broader social dynamics at play, including changes in supervision, routines, and opportunities for risky behaviour when traditional structures are removed or altered.
Factors behind the spike
Several intertwined factors help explain the uptick in deliberate fires:
- Covid-related restrictions and reduced social interaction: Lockdowns limited supervision, particularly for younger people who rely on schools, after-school activities, and community programs for structure.
- Shifts in daily routines: With daytime activities disappearing, some individuals sought alternative outlets for energy or attention, which in some cases manifested as vandalism or dangerous actions.
- Household pressures: Financial strain, housing insecurity, and uncertainty can contribute to volatile environments where riskier behaviour becomes more likely.
- Social isolation: Reduced access to supportive networks and mentors can leave individuals feeling overlooked or bored, driving harmful acts as a form of expression or coping.
Understanding these social dynamics is essential for designing prevention strategies that target root causes rather than merely reacting to incidents after they occur.
The impact on fire services: resilience under stress
The Covid-19 era posed unusual challenges for fire services, testing their resilience and adaptability. In Fife, the fire and rescue service worked to maintain operational efficiency despite rising trends in deliberate fires. Key responses included:
- Keeping operations running with adjusted safety protocols
- Allocating resources to manage increased demand
- Continuing prevention work despite health restrictions
Nevertheless, the pandemic also influenced fire-related statistics in meaningful ways. Notably, there was a reduction in unwanted fire alarm signals, dropping by about a quarter. This decline is likely linked to fewer students in universities and schools where false alarms are more common due to supervision gaps. While encouraging, this decrease does not negate the need to address the underlying causes behind deliberate fires in the community. It underscores that preventing deliberate fires requires attention to social factors as well as traditional fire prevention measures.
The importance of home fire safety visits
Home fire safety visits are a cornerstone of prevention. They provide opportunities to install and test smoke alarms, identify escape routes, and offer tailored safety advice. The pandemic dramatically disrupted these valuable interactions. A plan to complete around 2,500 visits could not be fully realized, only 733 visits were achieved during the height of the pandemic due to health restrictions and lockdown measures. This gap represents a missed opportunity to reinforce home safety and mitigate risk in vulnerable households.
Despite challenges, continuing outreach is essential. Even with restrictions, efforts to reach high-risk homes remain critical. Rebuilding momentum for home fire safety visits in the post-pandemic period is a key element in reducing deliberate fires.
Re-engaging the community: youth, schools, and partnerships
The rise in deliberate fires signals deeper social issues that require proactive community engagement. The reduction in day-to-day school interactions can leave youths with fewer constructive outlets, increasing the risk of risky behavior. Local leaders emphasise the need to re-engage young people with positive activities and mentorship.
Strategies to consider include:
- Expanding school-based and community programs that provide mentorship, conflict resolution training, and constructive activities
- Encouraging youth participation in safety education and community projects to foster belonging and responsibility
- Developing mentorship networks and community outreach programs that connect youths with positive role models
Community mentors, youth clubs, and neighborhood watch programs can play a vital role in providing supervision, support, and a sense of purpose that reduces the appeal of dangerous or reckless behaviour.
Paths forward: practical steps to reduce deliberate fires
Addressing deliberate fires attributed to Covid requires a multi-pronged approach that combines prevention, education, and community engagement. Key strategies include:
- Strengthening youth engagement: Reintroduce and expand programs that provide productive activities, mentorship, and conflict resolution training. Keeping youths connected to positive routines reduces opportunities for risky behavior.
- Reinvigorating home safety visits: Adapt visits to accommodate health guidelines, prioritise high-risk households, and leverage outreach to deliver targeted safety messages. Ensure that prevention momentum continues as restrictions ease.
- Sharpening prevention messaging: Use local data to tailor campaigns that address specific risk factors in Fife, including links between isolation and dangerous behaviours. Clear, relatable messaging helps communities recognise early warning signs and take action.
- Fostering inter-agency collaboration: Pair fire services with schools, youth services, and community organisations to coordinate prevention and early intervention. Shared resources and coordinated programs increase effectiveness.
- Supporting families under strain: Provide resources and referrals for mental health, financial guidance, and social support to reduce stressors contributing to risky conduct. A more secure home environment supports safer communities.
Deliberate fires have increased due to Covid, and the data from Fife illustrate how public health crises can cascade into public safety challenges. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s resilient response demonstrates what is possible when agencies adapt and stay focused on prevention. Yet the rise also reveals deeper social issues, isolation, disrupted routines, financial strain, that require proactive, community-centered solutions.
Re-engaging young people, reinvigorating home fire safety visits, and strengthening partnerships across agencies are essential steps toward reversing the trend. By addressing immediate safety needs and underlying social factors, communities can reduce deliberate fires and build a safer, more connected future for all residents in Fife and beyond. Continuous monitoring, learning from data, and implementing collaborative strategies will be crucial as we navigate the ongoing effects of the pandemic and work toward lasting public safety improvements.
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