THE Galashiels and District ward of Scottish Borders Council was the scene of 15 of the 41 fires which were started deliberately in the three months to June 30.

In his quarterly report to this Friday’s meeting of the Police, Fire & Rescue and Safer Communities Board at Newtown, Local Senior Officer Alasdair Perry reveals that the number of arson incidents across the region was up 40% from the 29 recorded in the corresponding period of 2014.

“Most deliberate fires in the Galashiels ward occurred over a five-day period in early June with probably one or a group of individuals responsible for them all,” states LSO Perry.

Incidents in the ward ranged from tyres being ignited on the common stair of flats in Galashiels to the burning of refuse and garden fences.

“The deliberate fires in Galashiels resulted in a high profile campaign by the Scottish Fire & Rescue Service [SFRS] and the Safer Communities team via local radio and social media,” recalls LSO Perry. “Local crews also carried out reassurance visits to affected areas.” The second most notorious ward for arson with 11 incidents was Tweeddale East where most of these were woodland fires started by campers.

The blaze on the common stair in Galashiels was one of 32 house fires attended by the SRFS over the quarter – up by a third on the 24 recorded last year.

“Cooking continues to be the main cause of dwelling fires,” reports LSO Perry citing a serious incident at a top floor flat in Galalaw Road, Hawick, which left the male occupier with severe injuries. He was one of seven fire-related casualties, compared to five over the same period in 2014.

And there was one fatality – a 62-year-old man who had been helping renovate the old village hall at Nenthorn near Kelso on June 7.

The cause of that blaze, which was attended by 30 firefighters, continues to be “subject to investigation”.

The upward trend of arson, domestic fires and casualties was bucked over the three months in relation to road traffic collisions, with the service attending 18 incidents, compared to 24 in the same quarter last year.

But there were two fatalities – an 18-year-girl on the A6015 at Chirnside and a 47-year-old man on the back road from Lauder to Stow.

There was a welcome reduction in the number of false alarms, with 198 recorded compared to 210 last year.

Board members will hear that 75% of these were non-malicious and down to fire alarm equipment failure.