THE long cold winter is believed to have contributed to a rise in fires across Essex.

Latest figures from the fire service reveal the number of primary fires – including homes and vehicles – rose from 2,615 in 2008/09 to 2,891 in 2009/10, a rise of 10.6 per cent.

Gordon Hunter, deputy chief fire officer for Essex County Fire and Rescue Service and director of operations, said the rise was down to a number of different factors.

He said: “The way we record calls has changed in the past year, with incidents such as grass fires now being classed as primary fires.

“It might also be part of the impact of the downturn, in that there are more deliberate types of fires. This was something I did predict soon after the economic downturn began.”

Mr Hunter continued: “The other thing that also impacts, and it is hard to find statistical proof so this is based on knowledge on the ground, is we have had a long, hard winter. Subsequently people are burning fuel longer, and, as gas prices rise, people with open fires are resorting to using more coal and logs for heat.

“If chimneys haven’t been swept recently, or people are using cheap inadequate fuel, then there is a far greater risk of fire.”

The statistics will also be analysed by the fire service, to look for patterns and trends in regions.