Arson hunt launched after three farm blazes

A SERIAL arsonist may be targeting barns and haystacks in the North Yorkshire countryside according to police investigating three separate blazes in the early hours of yesterday.

Police are treating all three fires as suspicious and are also looking at possible links with other attacks in other parts of the country, although it is too early to say if there are any connections.

Det Sgt Lee Boyeson, of York CID, said yesterday: “These are completely senseless acts which could result in devastating consequences.

“The offenders not only put members of the public at risk, but also put themselves in extreme danger. Not to mention the cost to the farmer and the emergency services.”

“We urge anyone who saw any suspicious activity in any of the locations or has other information to please contact us.”

All three fires broke out in the early hours of yesterday morning.

Just after midnight a member of the public reported a fire in a field to the rear of Primrose Dene in Byram near Knottingley. Three other smaller fires were subsequently reported in the same area.

Two people were seen running from the scene and the fire service assisted police using a thermal imaging camera to try an locate any suspects but they were not found.

Firefighters were called out just before 1am to a fire in a Dutch barn at York Road, Sutton-on-the-Forest, near York, in which 148 bales of hay were destroyed.

Just after 1.50am a farmer reported 450 bales of hay on fire in a field at Grimston Bar in York, beside the busy junction of the A1079 and A64.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact police on 0845 60 60 247 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.