Residents trying to stop youths from starting fires in parks are being threatened with arson attacks on their homes.

The alarming reports were highlighted by Cllr Alan Boad at last week's meeting of Warwick District Council.

Since then, Warwickshire County Council has issued a direct plea having dealt with 134 deliberately-started fires across the first six months of 2026 with dry ground from a lack of rain adding the concern that blazes are becoming more difficult to contain.

Cllr Boad raised the question of what influence the district could have through its obligations.

"We're starting to have problems where youths are setting fires in odd places," he said.

"I know there have been some in other parts of the district, but The Holt on Cubbington Road has had two fires so far.

"Residents have been threatened by the young people – 'we'll set your house on fire'. That's a police issue, nothing to do with us, but what we need to be looking at is where we have this dry undergrowth, clearing it out to give people a chance, (so) there is nothing to catch fire.

"People are worried where it comes up to their boundaries, whether it jumps across into gardens.

"My thoughts were that as we are not cutting grass now, because it is not growing, could the grass teams be put into sorting out the undergrowth."

Leader Cllr Ian Davison said the district was working with other partners on prevention work and that warning signs had been put up, asking people not to set fires or light barbecues in parks and public spaces.

He highlighted the complexities of adjoining privately-owned land when it came to tackling undergrowth, adding: "We need to balance the benefits of wildlife and various habitats, for example meadow and deadwood, all the positive actions we're delivering through the Biodiversity Action Programme, with any potential fire risks.

"Basically, getting rid of everything like deadwood is not good in terms of biodiversity."

He added that grass cutting teams would be utilised elsewhere but that the public and councillors would be key as "our eyes and ears" when it came to deliberate fires.

"It is both reckless and dangerous when people ignore the no barbecue signs or think it is okay to start a fire," he continued.

"We have all seen on the television the potential damage that can be caused to property, wildlife and more importantly putting people's lives at risk."

Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service this week called on communities to "remain vigilant" during summer months and said deliberate fires were "expected to increase during the school holidays".

"What may start as curiosity, boredom or seemingly harmless fun can quickly develop into a serious incident, putting lives, wildlife, property and the environment at risk," a statement added.

The service advocates talking to children and young people about the dangers and consequences of playing with fire, keeping matches and lighters out of reach, being aware of hidden matches or lighters, encouraging children to leave the area of any fire immediately and raise the alarm, and for parents to seek support early if they are concerned about a child's behaviour in relation to potential fire setting.

(Header image by Robin Stott via geograph.org.uk)