ALMOST a third of the grass and woodland fires in Essex were started deliberately, new figures have revealed.

The statistics have also revealed the number of these types of fires have more than doubled in the last fives years.

According to the Press Association figures, there were 636 fires in grassland, woodland and crops in the months of May, June and July this year.

This is a 46 per cent increase on the number of wild fires in the summer months of 2014 when there was just 294.

They also reveal almost a third of these types of fires in Essex this year were deliberate.

There have been a number of deliberate field fires in south Essex this year.

On Canvey arsonists have been repeatedly targeting open spaces.

In August there were at least three incidents where fire crews rushed to fires the field fires behind Waterside Farm Sports Centre and Cornelius Vermuyden School, Canvey.

In one incident more than an acre of land was destroyed.

The Fire Brigade Union said the arson incidents puts additional unnecessary pressure on the already stretched service.

Riccardo La Torre, 34, secretary for the Fire Brigade Union in Essex, said: “We are not surprised as we are out there dealing with these incidents and feel the added pressure.

“It is disappointing as we warned MPs and bosses about this but they have been working out staffing and resources as an exact science, which is isn’t.

“We are going to get periods when the number of incidents go up and down, and now we are experiencing a peak.

“Forest and woodland fires have an incredible affect on agriculture and can spread and affect homes and property so quickly.

“We have had incidents with forest and field fires where we have to send about ten pumps and even call in additional staff from other areas and even off duty firefighters.

“This in turn leaves us short for other urban fires such as house fires. The service has been cut too far now.”

The Police and Crime Commissioner did not respond before the paper went to print.