Huge Surge in Fires Across Teesside as Deliberate Blazes Soar...
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Thousands of Fires, as Incidents Jump 26% Across Region
25th March 2026
Teesside is said to have seen a sharp rise in fires and emergency incidents over the past year — with the area now ranking among the worst in the country for deliberate blazes.
New figures reveal the total incidents attended by the fire service have now jumped by 26% compared to the five-year average, highlighting growing pressure on crews across the region.
Deliberate fires driving the increase
The most alarming trend is said to be the rise in deliberate fires, with Deliberate incidents up 33% year-on-year, Up 38% compared to the five-year average, with Teesside remaining one of the highest areas in the country for deliberate fires, with thousands of incidents recorded.
Secondary fires — often linked to anti-social behaviour such as bin fires — have also surged with the figures showing these to be Up by 40% on last year, with a significant proportion of those incidents being driven by vehicle fires with 45% of primary fires deemed to be vehicle-related, accounting for around 350 incidents.
In total, its claimed crews responded to over 9,000 incidents in just nine months — a dramatic increase on previous years. Fire control calls have also surged, rising 27% compared to the five-year average, further adding to the pressure on the service.
The increase in fires comes amid wider concerns about resources, staffing and funding within the fire service. With deliberate fires continuing to rise, questions are now being asked about Prevention efforts 7 whether services have the capacity to cope...
Fire officials say they are working with partners including the police to tackle the issue, particularly in hotspot areas. But with incidents continuing to climb, there's growing concerns that more may need to be done to reverse the trend.
The figures are set to go before a meeting at Cleveland Fire Authority scheduled to be held on the 27th March...
