The Gazette, Tuesday, April 12, 2011 www.blackpoolgazette.co.

uk

Election Investigation launches after firestarters strike again on sands

Arson yobs
for spots
on town
council

torch
ST ANNES will be the only
parish in Fylde to hold elec-
tions to decide the make-up of
the new town council.
Residents in St Annes will
go to the polls on May 5 to
elect the 11 councillors who
will make up the town coun-

dunes
cil.
But long-serving councillor
Arnold Sumner, who’s repre-
sented Park ward since 2005,
has decided to stand down.
Mr Sumner, who remains
co-ordinator of St Annes
Chamber of Trade, said: “It’s
been most enjoyable and
worthwhile serving on the BLAZE BATTLE: Firefighters tackle the flames
and (inset above) eyewitness Jordan Lawrence

town council.
“I was there right at the
very start in 2002 campaign-
ing for a town council with
the steering group, and I was
elected in 2005.
“But it’s nice to see young
people with new ideas com-
ing along and I wish them all
well. I will be there watching
and seeing how they all get
on.”
All the other parish elec-
tions – including those for
Kirkham Town Council - are
uncontested, meaning all the
candidates put forward will
automatically be elected onto
the councils.
FIRE bosses have launched an investiga-
tion after mindless yobs struck again in
broad daylight – turning a section of dunes
into a dangerous inferno.
The frightening incident saw those who had
come to enjoy the sunshine in St Annes having
to flee the sands as the fire spread rapidly.
The blaze, which was lit at around 3pm, is believed
to have been caused by the same arsonists who
struck in the same area just two weeks ago.
Jordan Lawrence, who was almost caught up in
the blaze himself, said: “I saw two young guys run-
ning away from the scene down one of the side roads,
just after the fire started.
“It was too late to put it out because it was spread-
ing fast with the wind.
By JACOB HOOSON
“We ran down to the main road and told some pas-
sers-by to phone the fire brigade.
“It’s plain stupid to start something like this”
Crew manager Pete Derbyshire, from St Annes
Fire Station, said: “We were alerted after members
of the public spotted the blaze, due to the sheer
number of calls coming in, we had to send out two
fire crews.
“There was a fire started here just two weeks ago
in a similar place. We believe both were started de-
liberately, probably by the same people.
“At this stage, there is not much point in bring-
ing in the police, because whoever have started the
blaze are long gone by now.
“The blaze itself was easily extinguished after
about 10 minutes, although it was large.
“We used beaters and aqua packs to quell the
flames and the grass should be able to recover
“The dunes are designed to be burned every once
in a while, although not with the frequency of fires
we are now seeing.”
Emily Johnson, who narrowly missed being
‘
It’s plain stupid to start
something like this
- Eyewitness Jordan Lawrence
caught in the fire, said: “We were sitting just below
the fire and didn’t even notice it until we heard a
‘crackling’ sound.
“When we turned around, there was a ball of fire
right overhead!
“We couldn’t really believe what was happening, it
was a bit surreal.”
Some members of the public called for more thor-
ough patrols of the beach, but beach ranger Adam
Pennington said: “Our main responsibility is to en-
sure the safety of the public, as well as providing ac-
tivities for all people to enjoy.
“As soon as we spotted the fire, we made sure peo-
ple stood at a safe distance.
“It’s shocking this has happened again.”
julia.bennett@
blackpoolgazette.co.uk

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