FIREFIGHTERS were called out to a blaze on Walney in the early hours of yesterday morning, igniting anger as it becomes another in a long series of allegedly deliberate fires that have been started in the area.

Firefighters from Barrow and Walney were called at 3am to a grass fire at the Furness Golf Club course.

Grass fires have the potential to spread and can cause significant damage to nearby properties and wildlife.

Previously, Cumbria Fire and Rescue’s Jon Griffiths’ has spoke of the dangers of tackling blazes at the golf course at night. He said: “The time of night and lack of visibility meant that the fire crews had a number of dangerous circumstances to work under.”

It took three hours to distinguish the flames.

Firefighters are now working alongside the police in an investigation into the incident.

Cumbria Fire and Rescue station manager Roger Exley said: “The grass on the golf club was on fire, and firefighters were there until 6.45am.

“We have been called to fires in this area in excess of eight to nine times in the past few months.

“We are asking Cumbria to be vigilant and report any anti-social behaviour to the police.

“We are also asking you to be aware of where the young members of your family are.

“The fire was potentially set by young people in the area.

“We are working with the police to investigate the incident.

“We also ask that you please be careful with disposable barbecues, as fires can spread from the shoreline.”

Mr Exley has also shown his frustration that these incidents could prove fatal to others who may need the assistance of the vital service whilst fires at the golf course are set.

Mr Exley said: “It is not good for Walney and Barrow firefighters to be tied up with what could be a deliberately caused fire.

“What if there was a house fire in Barrow and we were tied up with a fire that does not need to occur.”

Furness Golf Course has been hit with three serious fires in less than a year. A 50-foot fire on the course in August last year led nearby streets to be ‘blackened with smoke’.

Anyone with information on the fires, particularly eyewitnesses, are asked to contact Cumbria Police on 101 or contact Crime Stoppers anonymously.