FIREFIGHTERS from Yelverton and police officers joined forces in a special awareness operation this week to highlight the dangers of lighting fires deliberately on Dartmoor.

The officers on mountain bikes were patrolling Roborough Down where fire crews have attended 25 arson attacks since March this year.

As part of Operation Firewatch, they were promoting the message that the fire and rescue service cannot be in two places at once.

Arson reduction manager Keith Pascoe said: 'Any time we attend a fire up here on the moor it means that equipment is not available for house fires and similar emergencies elsewhere.

'The fire brigade that attends most of these incidents at Roborough Down is Yelverton and that is a retained fire station.

'Every time the engine turns out, it costs about £350, and that is council taxpayers' money that is being spent putting out small fires that someone has started deliberately.'

Mr Pascoe said the problem was particular to Roborough Down because in the three months since March there had only been three deliberate fires on the rest of the moor.

'It is not just someone having a cigarette or a crafty barbecue. For some reason, someone is starting these small fires on a fairly regular basis,' he said.

Fires also caused other problems, like dangers to wildlife, the scarring of the moor and destruction of habitats, the potential to endanger life and cost to the commoners through loss of income, he said.

Mr Pascoe added that fire officers worked in partnership with landowners who had a right to carry out swaling on an annual basis.

Any additional burning could cost them money.

Police and fire officers will carry out regular patrols at Roborough Down and issue leaflets to members of the public to raise awareness.