You could die; Stark warning to young arsonists.

Byline: By RON LIVINGSTONE

A TOUGH warning to young arsonists who target derelict buildings was sounded by a fire chief today.

Cleveland Fire Brigade arson expert Lol Craven warned a firebug could die trapped by smoke or flames.

The warning follows a series of deliberate blazes on Teesside.

Fire crews were called to Douglas Street, Middlesbrough, to a fire in offices there.

The first floor of the building was destroyed by fire and there was smoke damage to the rest of the property.

Two fire engines were sent to the building on the Longlands Road junction.

Arson experts are also probing a blaze started in rubbish and which spread to destroy a workshop.

The blaze, started on an allotment on Hope Street, Haverton Hill, tied up fire crews for three hours.

Fire crews from Billingham and Stockton were alerted after flames spread to a nearby workshop.

All the contents of the workshop were destroyed - including tyres, which fed the blaze.

Firefighters faced the potential risk of exploding gas cylinders and had to spend a long time cooling them before declaring them safe.

Lol Craven, Cleveland Fire Brigade Arson Task Force Manager, said: "Those who deliberately set fire to any property are not only putting themselves in danger but also risking the lives of the fire crews attending the incident and those of occupiers of neighbouring premises.

"The inside of any derelict property poses a serious safety risk to any individual even without a fire hazard.

"Arson can attract a substantial prison sentence and is the largest single cause of fire in England and Wales.

Within the Cleveland Fire Authority area the estimated cost is pounds 24 million a year."

Call Cleveland Police on 01642 303126 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

CAPTION(S):

BLAZE SCENE: Probation House on the corner of Douglas Street and Longlands Road, the scene of one of the recent blazes