Crap Towns / Chelmsford / Deliberate fires

How many fires get started on purpose in Chelmsford?

There were 1.6 deliberate fires per 10,000 people a year in Chelmsford from April 2023 to March 2026, 72% lower than the typical town's 5.7. The most common were grass, woods and crops set on fire, at 0.6. In 2025/26 it was 2.8, up from 1.1 in 2023/24.

**Over time**
Period	Here	Typical town
2023/24	1.1	5.2
2024/25	1.0	5.4
2025/26	2.8	6.4

**What was set alight**
Fire	Here	Typical town
Grass, woods and crops set on fire	0.6	1.7
Bins and rubbish set on fire	0.6	1.9
Other outdoor fires	0.4	1.5

**Nearby towns**
Town	Distance	Fires per 10,000 people a year
Wickford	14.6 km	6.2
Runwell	13.0 km	5.2
Witham	12.8 km	4.4
Danbury	7.2 km	3.2
Maldon	14.6 km	2.3
South Woodham Ferrers	13.7 km	2.1
Chelmsford	–	1.6
Billericay	13.0 km	1.6
Galleywood	4.6 km	1.0
Great Notley	14.0 km	0.7
Ingatestone	10.5 km	0.6
The typical town	–	5.7