Crap Towns / Southampton / Deliberate fires

How many fires get started on purpose in Southampton?

There were 7.9 deliberate fires per 10,000 people a year in Southampton from April 2023 to March 2026, 39% higher than the typical town's 5.7. The most common were other outdoor fires, at 3.0. In 2025/26 it was 10.9, up from 6.3 in 2023/24.

**Over time**
Period	Here	Typical town
2023/24	6.3	5.2
2024/25	6.6	5.4
2025/26	10.9	6.4

**What was set alight**
Fire	Here	Typical town
Other outdoor fires	3.0	1.5
Bins and rubbish set on fire	2.6	1.9
Grass, woods and crops set on fire	2.4	1.7

**Nearby towns**
Town	Distance	Fires per 10,000 people a year
Bursledon	6.4 km	9.9
Botley	7.7 km	8.4
Southampton	–	7.9
North Baddesley	7.4 km	7.2
West End	4.0 km	6.4
Hedge End	6.2 km	5.2
Netley	6.0 km	4.8
Hythe and Dibden Purlieu	6.8 km	4.5
Marchwood	5.1 km	2.9
Eastleigh	6.6 km	2.8
Chandler's Ford	7.6 km	2.0
The typical town	–	5.7