'˜Somebody could be killed' - Councillor's fears after arson attack rips through farmland

The blaze at Little Eppleton Farm. Photo by Lisa Tempest.

A councillor fears people could be killed if there are more arson attacks such as the one which ripped through farmland on Wearside and destroyed 20 acres of barley at the weekend.

The blaze ripped through Little Eppleton Farm in the Hetton area, with the farmer whose land was involved in helping firefighters to put out the inferno.

Investigators have said they believe the fire, which could be seen for miles around, was started deliberately and have warned of the dangers of people starting fires in the current dry and hot weather conditions of this summer.

Firefighters deal with the blaze at Little Eppleton Farm.

A Tyne and Wear Fire Brigade spokesman said the incident could have caused “untold damage to life and property”.

Hetton Town Councillor Bob Heron, a former mayor of Sunderland, today told of his concern that further incidents of the same nature could cost people their lives.

Coun Heron said: “We’ve had these type of fires in the past in this area.

“We had three quite serious ones in Hetton Dene and at Hetton Lyons not so long ago.