South Lanarkshire Council is teaming up with the fire service to hold safety sessions. 

The council and Scottish Fire and Rescue Service will hold a number of drop-in events across the area to help locals keep their areas safer.

Officers from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service have reported a surge in incidents of fire-raising during the recent hot weather across South Lanarkshire, especially around residential and wooded areas.

There have also been cases of items from local businesses and homes left out for uplift or disposed of being taken to local woods and set on fire, causing damage to the environment and affecting the wildlife as well. 

And some fires have been lit close to buildings and homes, causing a real risk to the surrounding residents and creating a huge risk of injury for those setting the fires as well as for fires spreading. 

The council’s Joint Problem Solving Unit, Local Area Housing Teams and Grounds Services, and Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Community Action Team officers are hoping to engage with local communities and businesses about how they can help make their community a safer and more enjoyable place to live.

Teams will be holding drop-in sessions throughout July and August. 

The first event will be held in East Kilbride on Wednesday, July 19, at 2pm at Murray Square, Strathcona Lane Lockups.

An event for Cambuslang and Rutherglen area will be held on Wednesday, July 26, at 2pm at Whitlawburn, Western Road.

A session for Hamilton will be held on Wednesday, August 2, at 2pm at Eddlewood Park.

And an event will be held in Clydesdale on Wednesday, August 9, at 2pm at Smyllum Road near the shops beside Healthy Valleys. 

Events will last around one to two hours and a fully-crewed fire appliance will be there as well as officers from the councils to provide advice, information and assistance, and members from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Community Action Team, who will offer information on fire safety.