A BLACKBURN fire chief has appealed to parents to keep an eye on their children, after a massive increase in the number of deliberately-started grass fires.

The town's station commander, Jim Owen, said the brigade had attended deliberate fires across the area, including spates in Ewood, Higher Croft, Wensley Fold, Shadsworth and Queen's Park.

His appeal followed a 780 per cent increase in the number of grass fires in the first quarter of this year, compared to 2002.

Station Commander Owen said: "I would ask parents to be mindful of their children's activities and that people are vigilant to this problem.

"These fires are a big drain on the fire service resources and can mean delay in attending other emergencies and fire engines having to travel from other towns.

"The rise from 22 fires in the first quarter of last year to 173 this year is partly because it's been very dry and it includes some large moorland fires which probably started by accident.

"But we are dealing with an inordinate amount of these fires and the vast majority are started deliberately."