Deliberate fires in Inverclyde have fallen sharply

Scottish Fire and Rescue Service figures show deliberate fires in Inverclyde fell from 55 to 16 in the third quarter of 2025/26, and overall incidents attended dropped from 215 to 146 in the same period.

New figures from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service show the number of deliberate fires recorded in Inverclyde fell sharply in the third quarter of 2025/26. The period covered is October to December 2025 and deliberate fires fell from 55 to 16. The report will be presented to the council's police and fire scrutiny panel next month. The reduction forms part of a wider decline in fire service activity across the area. Key figures: - Deliberate fires: 16 in Oct–Dec 2025, down from 55 in the same period last year (71% reduction). - Most common type involved refuse or refuse containers (6 incidents); three deliberate fires were recorded in dwellings. - Incidents were recorded across multiple council wards, with the highest numbers in Inverclyde Central and Inverclyde East Central. - Overall SFRS attendance: 146 incidents in the quarter, down from 215 (32% decrease). - Breakdown: fires attended fell from 54 to 20 (62%); false alarms dropped from 114 to 59 (48%); special service incidents decreased from 47 to 33. - No fire-related fatalities were recorded; one person was rescued by firefighters and did not require medical treatment. Summary: The drop in deliberate fires and the broader falls in attended incidents represent a measurable reduction in reported fire activity in Inverclyde during the quarter. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service reports continued prevention work, including education in schools, FireSkills courses, home fire safety visits and partnership work with Inverclyde Council and Police Scotland. The full report is due to be presented to the council's police and fire scrutiny panel next month.