FIREFIGHTERS have battled more than 700 grass fires in Gwent during the past two months costing taxpayers more than £1.4million.

Between March 1 and April 22, a total of 738 grass fires were started in Gwent, the majority of which were started deliberately.

Fire chiefs warn people who are setting these fires are "putting lives in danger."

There were 355 in Caerphilly alone while Blaenau Gwent had 223 grass fires during the past two months and Newport 105.

Torfaen and Monmouth were the areas least affected but still had 47 and eight grass fires during the past two months respectively.

Just during the past week there have been 245 grass fires in Gwent, all of which have been started deliberately.

Caerphilly has had 106 of these and Blaenau Gwent 91.

Based on an average cost per fire of £1,970, this means grass fires have cost Gwent taxpayers a total of £1,453, 860 during the past two months and £482, 650 just during the past week.

A fire service spokeswoman said most of these grass fires had been started deliberately with a large amount seeming to be started by young people under the age of 18.

She said: “Depending on the type of fire depends on how many firefighters and appliances are sent out but we have had incidents where 40 firefighters have needed to attend.”

Head of Risk Reduction from the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, Martin Henderson said the fire service would be joining with the police and other partners to crack down on those who set deliberate fires.

He said: “The people responsible for starting these fires should understand that they are putting lives in danger because it ties up resources and can take us a few minutes longer to respond to other incidents.

“Anyone thinking about deliberately setting fire to the mountainside needs to realise that we will pull out all the stops to ensure that they are caught and could face prosecution.”

He urged parents to keep an eye out to ensure their children are not involved in setting fires.

Anyone who suspects someone of starting a fire should contact Gwent police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

EDITORIAL COMMENT: Parents should pay fire bill

THE figures released today which show the number of grass fires started deliberately in Gwent over the last two months is completely shocking.

According to South Wales Fire Service, firefighters have tackled more than 700 at a cost to the taxpayer of more than £1.4million.

Between March 1 and April 22, a total of 738 grass fires were started.

There were 355 in Caerphilly alone while Blaenau Gwent had 223 grass fires during the past two months and Newport 105.

Torfaen and Monmouth were the areas least affected but still had 47 and eight grass fires.

Just during the past week alone there have been 245 grass fires in Gwent.

The fire service says the blazes are started by children, which is a fact that doesn’t surprise us.

But it does lead us to the question of where are the parents in all this?

If a parent isn’t fully aware of where their child is at all times then that is a failing on their part.

Allowing your child to roam free results in these types of incidents.

There may be a way of stopping this.

If the parents of children who are caught lighting these fires are slapped with the call out cost to the fire service of £1,970 then we may see a dramatic fall.

Of course, children shouldn’t be starting fires in the first place but it is their parents who are ultimately responsible and therefore should carry the can when their kids are caught.

Imposing these costs on the parents should act as a suitable deterrent.