STRATHCLYDE'S firefighters have been called out to nearly 11,000 nuisance fires so far this year - that's one every 40 minutes.

STRATHCLYDE'S firefighters have been called out to nearly 11,000 nuisance fires so far this year - that's one every 40 minutes.

Nearly a third of the 10,780 deliberate blazes in the brigade area were in Glasgow and the worst-hit area in the city is the north east.

Although the number of firebug attacks is down on previous years, fire bosses claim the scale of the problem is still a major drain on time and resource - and is putting lives at risk.

The figures released to the Evening Times under Freedom of Information cover what fire chiefs term "secondary fires".

These are blazes started in derelict buildings or abandoned vehicles. They also include fires started in rubbish, grassland, straw or stubble.

There have been 11,187 "secondary fires" across Strathclyde Fire and Rescue's area so far this year and more than 96% of them are being treated by the brigade as deliberate.

Glasgow's north east council ward, which includes Barmulloch, Provanmill, Ruchazie, Garthamlock and Easterhouse, has the worst record in the city.

There have been 364 deliberate fires in the area so far this year. There were 523 last year and 769 in 2006.

Outside Glasgow the worst-hit region is North Lanarkshire where fire crews have been called to 2188 malicious blazes this year.

In one North Lanarkshire ward, Fortissat near Shotts, fire crews have dealt with 475 deliberate blazes this year - the highest for any council ward across the Strathclyde Fire and Rescue region.

Chief fire officer Brian Sweeney said: "These fires waste vital time and resources but, more importantly, they have an effect on our ability to fight serious accidental fires which threaten life and property.

"We would ask that anybody who has any information about people deliberately setting fires to contact the police or to phone Firestoppers."

Jim Robertson, a Labour councillor who represents the Fortissat area, said: "The problem we have is the area around Shotts is surrounded by fields. In the summer, kids go out and start grass fires.

"It's a long-running concern. We also have to deal with kids setting fire to wheelie bins, which is a problem right across North Lanarkshire.

"Apart from the danger, the other issue is the cost of these fires. It costs £5000 a time for the fire service to turn out and deal with them.

"The council and the fire service have tried to go into schools and teach kids about the danger of this, but sometimes I don't think it's put across as hard as it could be."

Strathclyde Fire and Rescue say they are working with communities to tackle the problem and there are signs the work is paying off.

The number of fires started deliberately this year is expected to be less than last year's tally of 16,717, a figure which was itself down from the 2006 high of 18,489.

A clampdown on deliberate fire setting was launched in Pollok in Glasgow's South Side earlier this month after the area was repeatedly targeted by fire yobs.

The local fire chief, area commander Lewis Ramsay, said: "Deliberate fire raising continues to be a significant problem for our service.

"We are asking people to be vigilant and not turn a blind eye to fire-setting as the smallest of fires can quickly grow out of control."

The service has also introduced Fire Reach, an education programme aimed at teaching youngsters the dangers of fire starting.

After a successful pilot with youngsters at Clarkston fire station the programme is now in operation across the brigade area.

During the four-day course young people take part in mock exercises to find casualties in smoke-blackened rooms and learn the dangers of starting fires.

A Strathclyde Fire and Rescue spokesman said: "There is strong evidence that Fire Reach is having a positive impact on young people, particularly those who may run the risk of becoming involved in anti-social behaviour.

"Parents and teachers tell us that Fire Reach boosts youngsters' self-discipline and self-confidence.

"The firefighters who run the courses present a good role model for the young people to follow."

Fire setting carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. Anyone under the age of 16 involved in fire setting may be made to attend a children's hearing and fire awareness education, while parents of repeat offenders could face eviction.

Anyone with information which could help prevent a malicious fire should phone Firestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Fire deaths in Scotland rise by 40%

THE number of people killed in fires in Scotland rose by almost 40% last year, figures revealed today.

There were 73 fire deaths in 2007-08, an increase of 38% on the previous year's 45.

Alcohol was a contributory factor in 41% of fatal house fires, according to the Fire Services annual report 2007-08.

Injuries from fires in Scotland also increased by 6% to 1547, compared with 1453 in the previous year. Almost two-thirds - 63% - of those who died in house fires lived alone.

Recent deaths in the West of Scotland include a 77-year-old woman who was killed when a blaze ripped through her home in Motherwell in August.

Her Majesty's chief inspector of fire services Keith MacGillivray, who compiled the report, said more must be done to promote safety.

He said: "This tragic loss of life due to fire in Scotland cannot be allowed to increase any further."

Three firefighters died in the course of their duties.

John Noble, 46, was killed when the vehicle carrying him and four other Alloa firefighters struck a tree in Clackmannanshire in January 2008.

Tom Brown, 53, based at Kilwinning Fire Station, became ill and died after tackling a house fire in Irvine in May 2007.

Gary Telfer, 44, collapsed at the scene of a car fire near Dumfries last July.

Meanwhile in Glasgow more than a dozen fire crews battled to bring a derelict building blaze under control last night.

Fire broke out at a three storey mid terrace property in Easterhouse, around 6pm.

Crews from Easter-house, Springburn and Parkhead station were quickly on the scene in Lochend Road.

The fire ravaged the front and rear of the property and investigations are expected to be carried out.