Firefighters in Clacton have seen a significant increase in call-outs over the past year, it has been revealed.
Figures for 2004 were up about five per cent on the previous 12 months. Station officer Brian Bennett said crews attended a total of 1,239 calls.
"Our peak year was in 2001 and then figures went down," he said.
"But over each of the last two years, there has been a steady rise of about five per cent."
Almost half the calls, some 605, were to fire incidents, of which 15 per cent were treated as suspicious.
Mr Bennett said 300 false alarms made with good intent were received but the service also got 104 hoax calls in the Clacton area.
Published Friday, February 25, 2005
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