Crap Towns / Ashford / Deliberate fires

How many fires get started on purpose in Ashford?

There were 4.7 deliberate fires per 10,000 people a year in Ashford from April 2023 to March 2026, 18% lower than the typical town's 5.7. The most common were bins and rubbish set on fire, at 2.1. In 2025/26 it was 3.2, down from 7.9 in 2023/24.

**Over time**
Period	Here	Typical town
2023/24	7.9	5.2
2024/25	2.8	5.4
2025/26	3.2	6.4

**What was set alight**
Fire	Here	Typical town
Bins and rubbish set on fire	2.1	1.9
Grass, woods and crops set on fire	1.3	1.7
Other outdoor fires	1.3	1.5

**Nearby towns**
Town	Distance	Fires per 10,000 people a year
Canterbury	21.0 km	9.7
Sittingbourne	24.7 km	9.5
Faversham	19.1 km	6.0
Tenterden	14.8 km	4.8
Ashford	–	4.7
Aylesham	24.7 km	3.8
Littlestone-on-Sea	19.5 km	3.5
Folkestone	19.1 km	2.5
Hythe	16.0 km	2.2
Hawkinge	20.4 km	2.0
Staplehurst	22.9 km	0.9
The typical town	–	5.7