Young campaigner raises alarm over fires in Solihull parks
A nine-year-old from Solihull has drawn praise from the West Midlands Fire Service (WMFS) after launching a hands‑on campaign to warn people about the dangers posed by barbecues and deliberate fires in parks and green spaces.
The youngster, who said he wants to become a vet, began making posters after learning about recent fires in the area and worrying about the impact on wildlife and on people’s ability to use local parks. He and his father have been taking the homemade posters to sites around the borough and neighbouring areas, telling park users about the risks and asking them to think again before lighting fires.
- Locations visited include Birmingham Business Park, Bluebell Park and Meriden Park, with visits planned to Sheldon Country Park, Marston Green Recreation Ground and Brueton Park.
- Support from WMFS – the fire service publicly welcomed the poster and the message it carries.
- Broader context – the service has reported a substantial rise in calls and outdoor fire incidents in recent days.
WMFS offered words of encouragement, telling the boy, "we think your poster is brilliant and your message is spot on". The young campaigner put the concern simply: "Fires can kill animals, destroy nature and affect our environment. It also means I cannot play in the park."
"It has to stop now, before one of my firefighters or an innocent member of the public is seriously injured, or worse."
That warning came from Chief Fire Officer Simon Tuhill, who has emphasised the criminal consequences for anyone found deliberately setting fires. The comment followed a particularly large incident on Sunday in West Bromwich off Canterbury Road that the fire service said affected an area equivalent to around 35 football pitches and came within metres of people’s homes. Crews were still under pressure the following day, with eight drafted in to tackle separate blazes around Victoria Park in Tipton, which were also believed to be deliberate.
| Statistic | Week to Friday 7 August |
|---|---|
| WMFS calls | 4,649 (compared with 1,814 same period last year) |
| Incidents attended | 1,058 |
| Outdoor fires | 389 |
The fall‑out from an increase in outdoor fires is not only immediate damage: WMFS and the young campaigner both drew attention to the harm caused to wildlife and green habitats, the strain on emergency resources and the risk posed to local residents. With firefighters stretched, deliberate incidents add pressure and reduce capacity to respond to other emergencies.
Locally, the campaign is practical and visible. The boy and his father have been speaking directly to people using parks and handing out a clear, simple message: avoid barbecues and do not light fires in public green spaces. The next round of visits, to well‑used parks in and around Solihull, will offer another opportunity for residents to engage and change behaviour.
WMFS figures underline why that community action matters. The service has reported a sharp increase in calls compared with the same week last year, and its senior officers have made clear the legal and safety consequences for arson. For Solihull residents, the story is a reminder that small actions can help protect neighbourhood parks and reduce demand on local emergency services.
The campaign also highlights a civic angle: young people taking ownership of local problems and prompting a response from statutory services. Whether through formal education, greater signage in parks, or continued grassroots efforts such as this one, a combination of approaches will be needed if the surge in outdoor fires is to be brought under control.
Residents who witness suspected arson or irresponsible fires are being asked to report incidents to West Midlands Police or to WMFS so crews can be directed quickly and offenders may be identified.
