EXCLUSIVE: Hundreds of thousands spent tackling deliberate fires in Dundee in three months.
Each incident costs the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service roughly £800.
Last updated 17th Jul 2017
Tay News can exclusively reveal that it cost emergency services around £178,400 dealing with deliberate blazes from April to June this year.
Fire crews attended 223 incidents where people had started minor fires - in things like wheelies bins - an 8.7% increase on the same period last year.
It costs roughly £800 each time they have to respond to incidents like this, which are thought to be caused mostly by young people.
Dundee district manager for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Craig Thomson said they now have plans to do more to tackle the problem.
He said: "We want to re-educate people about the impact that these types of fires cause on fire and rescue resources, and the community in general.
"It costs lots of money to replace wheelie bins and likewise, it's not very nice to look out your window and see burnt hedges outside your house."
He added: "Obviously, every young person isn't setting fires and we'll get to find the people that are responsible in conjunction with our community wardens, our antisocial behaviour teams and Police Scotland.
We'll always be looking to try and find out who has done these things."
A draft plan has now been set up to help clamp down on the problem.
Firefighters are looking to increase engagement with young people living in some of the worst areas affected, such as the North East of the city.
Local councillor, Brian Gordon has welcomed the news.
He said: "It is disappointing to be top of the local league table.
"During 2016/17, there was something like 763 deliberate fires in Dundee, when the five year average was only 610.
"What I'm glad of is the draft plan that has just come out this week from the local Fire and Rescue Service".
He continued: "When firefighters are fighting these fires, they are being taken away from the real serious stuff, like what's been seen in the press recently.
"We should be making sure that we reduce this problem".