Crap Towns / Barnstaple / Deliberate fires

How many fires get started on purpose in Barnstaple?

There were 9.4 deliberate fires per 10,000 people a year in Barnstaple from April 2023 to March 2026, 1.6 times the typical town's 5.7. The most common were grass, woods and crops set on fire, at 3.8. In 2025/26 it was 9.1, down from 10.5 in 2023/24.

**Over time**
Period	Here	Typical town
2023/24	10.5	5.2
2024/25	8.6	5.4
2025/26	9.1	6.4

**What was set alight**
Fire	Here	Typical town
Grass, woods and crops set on fire	3.8	1.7
Other outdoor fires	3.7	1.5
Bins and rubbish set on fire	1.9	1.9

**Nearby towns**
Town	Distance	Fires per 10,000 people a year
Barnstaple	–	9.4
Northam	11.8 km	8.7
Ilfracombe	14.8 km	7.1
Great Torrington	15.3 km	6.9
South Molton	16.9 km	6.4
Okehampton	37.6 km	5.4
Minehead	42.8 km	3.4
Fremington	6.7 km	3.2
Bideford	12.7 km	3.0
Braunton	8.0 km	2.6
Crediton	43.1 km	1.7
The typical town	–	5.7