Crews come under attack fighting 16 arsons in three nights

Firefighters and police officers warn ‘it is only a matter of time’ before someone is seriously injured or killed.

Police had to escort fire engines to incidents, the situation became so volatile.

READ > Police protect firefighters as vandals torch bins in Winsford

Firefighters have tackled 16 arson attacks across Winsford over the past three nights (Image: Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service)

Steve McCormick, the service’s area manager for prevention and protection said: "Our firefighters attended 16 fires in Winsford over the past three nights, all of them believed to have been started deliberately.

“Some of these fires were burning in close proximity to buildings, including an elderly persons’ home, a shop and a house any one of which could have caused serious injury or death and severe damage to buildings had these fires spread.

"The anti-social behaviour our firefighters encountered when they attended these incidents could have caused injuries to them and potential damage to fire engines which means they would be unavailable to respond to genuine emergencies, leaving the community at risk.

Fires have been started deliberately near an elderly persons' home, a shop and a house (Image: Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service)

"What people setting the fires don't realise is that, quite apart from the serious damage they can inflict, they are potentially harming their own futures as we will work with our police colleagues to prosecute anyone suspected of arson, leaving them with a criminal record.

“There is also a significant consequence on the community in which they live as each of these incidents results in environmental and financial impacts as the burned materials are cleared."

Inspector Jason Murray, of Northwich LPU, said: “We are aware of reports of deliberate fires in Winsford over the weekend and have a number of number of enquiries underway to establish the full circumstances and find those responsible.

“These incidents could have had devastating consequences on innocent members of the public and I want to reassure residents that we have a zero-tolerance approach to this careless crime.

“Anti-social behaviour of any kind will not be tolerated in our town and we are doing everything we can to locate the offenders and bring them to justice."

Anyone with information should contact Cheshire Police on 101 or visit cheshire.police.uk/tua/tell-us-about/soh/seen-or-heard/

Alternatively call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

Inspector Murray said:“We will have patrols in key areas and will look at using other powers available to us, such as dispersal orders, in order to stamp out these incidents.

“If anyone has any concerns, I would urge them to speak to an officer.

“As part of our ongoing enquiries, I would urge anyone who may have information on who is responsible or may have any dashcam or CCTV footage to come forward and report it to us.”