The move, by Tyne and Wear and Northumberland brigades, follows a study showing that 90% of all 999 calls last summer were to arsons or hoaxes.

Special posters are being produced which will go on display in public places during the summer school break.

The brigades want to make children and parents aware of the problem deliberate fire setting and hoax calls cause.

A spokesman for the Tyne and Wear brigade said: "We need to make youngsters and their parents aware of the problems this can cause local fire services every year, especially during the school summer holiday period.

Deliberate fires

"During the 2003 summer holiday period, 90% of all 999 calls attended by Tyne and Wear and 54% of all emergency calls attended by Northumberland Fire and Rescue Services were deliberate fires or hoax calls.

"The majority of the deliberately set fires were small fires started in grass or rubbish. Deliberate fires are totally preventable.

"The consequences of deliberate fires and hoax calls are far reaching, with the possibility that those starting the fires could cause serious injury to themselves or other members of the community.

"Children must be made to realise that when a fire engine is attending a deliberately set fire or hoax call, it cannot be somewhere else, for example a house fire or a road traffic accident where people may be trapped or injured.

"Ultimately, deliberate fires and hoax calls could kill.

"The huge summer holiday increase places a significant strain on current fire fighting resources, which should be used to attend genuine 999 emergencies."