A STAGGERING £2.9 million went up in flames in Dorset last year because of the action of car thieves and arsonists.

This was the huge cost to taxpayers, emergency services and insurance companies as a result of thieves and yobs setting fire to cars and vans.

And fire officers warn that the cost to people's lives each time they attend a vehicle fire is even higher.

In the 12 months to April, Dorset Fire and Rescue Service dealt with 726 vehicle fires which are either set alight by car thieves to destroy any evidence or yobs attacking abandoned vehicles. Home Office figures suggest that the cost of each vehicle fire is on average £4,000 - this includes the cost of calling out firefighters and police officers, as well as the recovery of the vehicle and any insurance costs.

Since April firefighters from the Redhill station alone have attended 75 car fires - at a cost, according to Home Office figures, of £300,000.

Sub officer Paul Ticehurst from Redhill station said: "You have also got to take into account the cost to the community, including the environmental issue. Some of the metals are highly toxic and when the vehicles cannot be recovered for a number of hours this is released into the air."

Every time the fire service responds to a vehicle fire, officers are taken away from their stations and further from the scene of other potential incidents.

Sub officer Dave Arundel, also from Redhill, said: "We had an incident where a disabled lady was in danger because her electric blanket caught fire and the crew couldn't attend because they were dealing with a car fire.

"Crews from further afield had to attend and thankfully they got the lady out. If we hadn't been attending the vehicle fire we could have been there much quicker and there would have been less damage."

Sub officer Ticehurst added: "Our resources are being taken up by unnecessary fires."

While vehicle fires remain one of the fire brigade's biggest challenges a number of initiatives are under way to tackle the problem.

The Cubit scheme was launched last year by the Police and DVLA and gives the police powers to scrap vehicles that are not taxed.

And in April this year Bournemouth Borough Council, Dorset Police and Dorset Fire and Rescue Service joined forces with Charles Trent Ltd to provide a free car disposal service.

Fire officers also visit schools to speak to children and teenagers about the work they do and the impact vehicle fires can have.

Bournemouth Police have also launched Operation Wave, which aims to reduce and detect vehicle crime.

Bournemouth Police have set up a hotline for people with information about car thieves to use in confidence. Anyone with information is asked to call 01202 222335 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

First published: October 2