Firebug warning after heath fires

FIREBUGS who started four fires in the space of a day at an Ipswich golf course are putting people's lives at risk, it was claimed today. The stark warning came after a series of fires at Rushmere Golf Club, in Rushmere Heath, were reported to the fire service.

FIREBUGS who started four fires in the space of a day at an Ipswich golf course are putting people's lives at risk, it was claimed today.

The stark warning came after a series of fires at Rushmere Golf Club, in Rushmere Heath, were reported to the fire service.

A crew was called to an undergrowth blaze at the course on Friday morning, followed by three call-outs to separate blazes at the course in the afternoon at 2.24pm, 2.43pm and 3.47pm.

Each of the fires is being treated as suspicious and information has been passed on to the police.

Ian Bowell, community fire safety officer, said a group of youths were spotted in the vicinity of one of the fires.

He said: “If we are at one place we can't be at another incident.

“These people could be putting lives at risk.

“If someone is keeping us busy through fires or making malicious calls we can't carry out our job which is rescuing people.”

Firefighters were again called to Rushmere Heath to tackle a gorse fire off Heath Road at 6pm on Saturday.

The flames were quickly brought under control.