by Hayley Robinson

Posters showing horrific burns suffered by a Sittingbourne firefighter have been put up around the town to warn people about the dangers of starting fires.

The move was prompted by two recent blazes in woodland close to Gore Court Cricket Club grounds, off London Road.

The first was at 6.44pm on April 14 when a mattress was alight. The other was just before 8.40pm on April 17 when a cushion was set on fire.

In total crews have been called out to the area on eight occasions in the past year to deal with rubbish and woodland fires. While small scale, it is feared these could escalate.

In an attempt to tackle the issue firefighters have been delivering leaflets and posters showing the injuries watch manager Mat Barney sustained while tackling a fire at Dartford Heath in 2005.

They have also been put up on a fence close to the cricket pavilion, at a shop in Gadby Drive and issued to Grove Park Primary School, in Hilton Drive.

Mr Barney said: "People don't realise how quickly a fire can flare up or change direction and if an experienced firefighter like me can be affected, so can those who start them and they can easily be killed."

Neil Ryder, who is also a watch manager at Sittingbourne fire station, said: "There is no pattern to the incidents but we believe that many of them have been started deliberately. Everyone needs to be very clear that arson is a crime and certainly not harmless fun. If caught, you face fines or several years in jail - possibly a life sentence if someone is killed as a result of your actions.

"Deliberate fires are destructive and dangerous; those who cause them are putting themselves, firefighters and others at serious risk. Not only does it have an impact on the environment and community in which we all live and work, it also has the potential to divert valuable firefighting resources away from other incidents such as house fires or road traffic collisions where lives may be in danger."