A COMMUNITY leader fears serious injury could be caused by a spate of deliberate car fires in Wrexham.
Arsonists set fire to a vehicle in Churchill Drive, Wrexham, in the early hours of yesterday.
The car was badly damaged and Cartrefle councillor Ronnie Prince, whose ward covers Churchill Drive, is now pleading for those responsible to stop after a plethora of deliberate car fires across Wrexham in the past 18 months.
Police are calling on the public to help find those responsible.
“It is a worrying trend that there are so many deliberate car fires happening across Wrexham,” said Cllr Prince.
“It appears we may have copycat arson incidents taking place.
“We have discussed this as councillors and I know police are looking into the issues.
“I would plead with whoever is responsible to stop before somebody ends up being seriously injured as a result of one of these fires. I have never known anything like it in Wrexham.”
The incident took place near Cefn Road, with the North Wales Fire and Rescue Service confirming nobody was injured, adding the fire is being treated as deliberate.
A spokesman for the service said they were called at 5.44am.
“The fire caused 70 per cent fire damage and smoke and heat damage to the rest of the vehicle.
“One hosereel and cutting equipment were used. One crew from Wrexham attended.”
The fire follows a spate of deliberate fires in the area.
At the weekend a motorbike was damaged after being set on fire on Queensway, Caia Park, coming a week after four vehicle fires were set ablaze in an hour in Wrexham during the early hours of June 24.
A large number of other deliberate car fires have been reported in areas including Caia Park and Ponciau in the past 18 months.
Chief Insp Alex Goss said: “It is clear that we have some offenders in the county who are causing real concern in our communities by these actions.
“These are totally mindless acts of vandalism and in addition to the vehicles being completely destroyed those responsible have no regard for the families in the area.
“I am now urging anyone who has information to contact North Wales Police as soon as possible so that we can stop this before someone is seriously injured.”
Chief Insp Goss said police are working with fire service partners and using intelligence-led policing to target specific areas thought most to be at risk.
Anyone with information on deliberate fires should call 101 or contacting Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.