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Crews tied up by arson spate
ARSONISTS struck at a city flat in one of six separate attacks during a hectic night for firefighters in Peterborough last night.
ARSONISTS struck at a city flat in one of six separate attacks during a hectic night for firefighters in Peterborough last night.A bathroom window was smashed at the empty flat in Paston Ridings, at about 11pm, before towels and toilet paper were stuffed through and set alight.
No one was hurt in the blaze, which was dealt with by firefighters from Dogsthorpe and Stanground, but a senior fire officer has hit back at the arsonists for putting lives at risk.
Watch manager at Stanground fire station John Chelton said: "Attacks like these are taking the city's fire cover away when there could be people in need of genuine help in real emergencies.
"Not only do they delay our response times, but they also put firefighters' lives in danger, as well as the lives of members of the public."
Earlier in the evening, an 18ft day boat was deliberately set on fire on the River Nene, not far from the city centre.
At about 10pm, firefighters were called to a stretch of the river close to Potters Way, but could not reach the burning boat, which had already been virtually destroyed.
Crew manager at Dogsthorpe fire station Scott Feveyear said: "When we got there, only the hull was left and the boat was minutes away from sinking.
"We were unable to carry out any firefighting action because it was about 300 yards away from the nearest access point, so all we could do was stand by.
"It looks like it was probably a dumped boat, because it was not moored to the bank and it had no outboard or inboard engine."
Elsewhere in the city, two cars were torched by arsonists in the early hours of this morning – the first in Norfolk Street, off Lincoln Road, at about 12.30am and the second in Wharf Road, off Oundle Road, shortly after 3am.
At about 5.30pm yesterday, a pile of rubbish was set alight next to the A47 near Dogsthorpe roundabout before a hedge was set on fire in South Street, Stanground, two hours later.
Firefighters from Wisbech were also kept busy by arsonists.
They were called to put out a car fire which had been deliberately started, on the A1101, near Newton, shortly after 3am today.
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Weather for Peterborough
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 21 mph
Wind direction: East
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