Police treating fire at flat as suspicious (From Barry And District News)

Police treating fire at flat as suspicious

WITHIN days of the fatal fire which claimed the life of firefighter Richard Jenkins, a Barry fire crew was called to deal with another possible case of arson.

Six people were evacuated from a flat in Kingsland Crescent on Tuesday afternoon, after fire spread to other flats.

A South Wales Police spokesman said: "The Kingsland Crescent fire is being treated as suspicious. An investigation team is trying to establish the cause. We are appealing for witnesses."

The vast majority of fires dealt with by Barry fire-fighters are arson. Arson accounted for 82 percent of all fires dealt with by Barry firecrews over the past year.

Between April 1, 2003 and March 31, 2004, Barry fire station was called to 579 fires, 472 were arson.

The suspicious fire at a derelict community centre in Ely at the weekend, which claimed the life of Barry fire-fighter Richard Jenkins, is far from an isolated incident.

Mr Jenkins, from Bridgend, was fatally wounded seconds after going into the burning building when an explosion happened and a fireball engulfed him.

The spiral of arson cases in the Barry area is reflected in the wider trend across South Wales.

Statistics released by the South Wales Fire Service, say arsonists are responsible for 85 percent of all fires in South Wales, compared to 56 percent in the rest of the UK.

The South Wales Fire Service has called for action to halt the problem of arson spiralling out of control. Most arson fires involve derelict buildings and rubbish or grass fires, although 250 homes have been set alight in South Wales since April 2003, costing £38m.

Fire-fighters also face worsening anti-social behaviour with increasing reports of youths attacking and verbally abusing on-duty crews.

Earlier this year South Wales Fire and Rescue Service set up a team to reduce and eventually eliminate attacks against firecrews.

Stones and other missiles were hurled at fire crews at more than 35 separate incidents in south Wales over the past year.

In some cases gangs have planted gas cylinders in cars they have stolen and set alight. The cylinders heat up quickly and explode with life-threatening impact.