FIREFIGHTERS are striving to combat deliberate fires in Halton in the run-up to bonfire night.

Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service is also warning about the dangers of misusing fireworks and urges residents to attend organised displays.

In 2013, there were 37 incidents in Runcorn and Widnes which is 29 fewer than the previous year.

Firefighter say Halton is still one of the busiest areas for deliberate fires.

Widnes station manager Andy Royle said: “This is always a busy time of year and we spend a lot of time preparing for it in a number of ways, ranging from engagement and education to enforcement, working closely with the police, local authorities and youth projects.

“Firefighters have been into schools in the area to highlight the dangers of nuisance fires to young people and working as part of the Halton Safer Partnership Group.

“A number of engagement activities have been organised in a bid to ensure children have plenty to keep them busy during the school holidays and leading up to bonfire night.”

Preventive action is also being taken with the use of a waste recovery team to remove potentially nuisance or dangerous bonfires.

In Halton, residents can report unlit bonfires via email at bonfire2014@smithssd.ltd.uk. Response is guaranteed within 24 hours.

Most injuries throughout the bonfire period occur as a result of people building their own bonfires, and setting off their own or misusing fireworks.

Runcorn station manager Mark Bushell said: “All the preventative measures we put in place are very much a partnership effort, and we are doing a variety of things to prevent the Halton community being disrupted by fires that could cause serious damage and even injury.

“People might see starting a small bonfire or setting off fireworks as a bit of harmless fun, but fire is unpredictable and can easily get out of control and spread, so we would always urge people to go to organised displays and not make their own. “

Over the bonfire period smaller fire engines, known as targeted response vehicles will be monitoring high risk areas to enable a quick response to small nuisance bonfires and act as a deterrent.

Residents are being asked to help reduce the risk of deliberate fires by ensuring wheelie bins and rubbish are not left out in the open. Householders are urged to collect their bins once they have been emptied.

Anyone with information about arson incidents in Halton can call police on 101 or alternatively contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.