GWENT experienced a 15% increase in fires during one period last year - the vast majority started deliberately, new figures show.

And South Wales's fire chief Brian Fraser is blaming "disaffected youths" for what he sees as a growing arson problem.

Mr Fraser told the Argus yesterday the latest fire figures, comparing July to September 2001 with the same period in 2002, showed a worrying increase in the number of reported blazes in the five Gwent local authorities.

Blaenau Gwent showed the biggest rise with a 29.8% jump, followed by Caerphilly with 20%, Monmouthshire 12.1%, Torfaen 7% and finally Newport with a 4.4% hike.

Another alarming statistic was the number of fires started by arsonists standing at a staggering 82%.

The chief fire officer said: "We continue to see an increase in property fires which is a national trend.

But he admitted: "We have a big arson problem, in particular with public buildings and car fires."

Chief Fire Officer Fraser said there was also "a disproportionate number of school fires" and that Newport was leading the way in the fight against school firebugs with pilot schemes such as the installation of CCTV cameras and sprinkler systems which had "dramatically reduced the number of arson incidents".

He said the vast number of fires were started by "disaffected youths" who cost the public purse in Wales £61m last year.

Although he admitted the number of arsonists who are eventually caught and successfully prosecuted was very low, the South Wales Fire Service, "would be working closely with the police."

Despite the increase in arson and reported fires, the number of fire deaths per year has actually been cut from an average of 25 to 30 deaths in the years prior to 1996 to the current figure which now stands at around eight or nine.

Newport councillor Bob Bright, a South Wales Fire Authority member, is concerned about the growing number of cars being burnt on the city's housing estates.

PICTURE: Firefighters tackling a blaze in Newport that was started deliberately