A FIRE Brigade is clamping down on nuisance fires by educating young people about anti-social behaviour.

Cleveland Fire Brigade is linking up with partners to provide pop-up activities to keep young people off the streets in a clampdown on nuisance fires.

The activities – Shout out & Kick about – including a climbing wall and football tournaments and are being set up in hotspot areas in support of the UK’s first-ever Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) Awareness Week from July 19 to July 25.

The latest figures show there were more than 2,200 deliberate fires across the Brigade area in the first six months of this year costing the local economy nearly £13m.

Steve Johnson, Area Manager, Prevention, Protection and Engagement, said: “Fire crews and our school’s education team will be on-hand at these activities to get to know the young people, engage with our local communities and provide support and advice about the dangers of fire. Such incidents are a huge financial and environmental cost to the community and can divert resources away from real emergencies where lives may be at risk.

“We know the majority of young people are responsible and these events are just a chance to show how everyone can have fun, make a positive contribution to the places where they live, and steer clear of anti-social behaviour. They are another step in our continuing work to build engagement with young people.”

In recent months the Brigade has also provided equipment for a number of local litters picking groups and has attended large events like the Big River Tees Tidy-up and the Eston Hills tidy-up, helping our communities take pride in their areas.

ASB Awareness Week is organised Resolve and is backed by the Home Office, National Police Chiefs’ Council and the National Fire Chiefs’ Council.

The activities are on Wednesday, July 21 2pm to 4pm at Eston Recreation Ground/MFC Herlingshaw Courts, TS6.

The Brigade will be providing activities via the school's education team, the youth engagement team will also be bringing along the climbing wall. There will also be support from MFC Foundation organising football sessions, and Cleveland Police and local youth services will be in attendance. 

On Friday, July 23 from 2pm to 4pm at Roseberry Field car park near 25k Youth Club, Redcar

The Brigade will be providing activities via the schools education team. There will also be support from MFC Foundation organising football sessions, and Cleveland Police and local youth services will be in attendance.