Hoax calls waste firefighters' time and can lead to loss of life

They have teamed up with the local police force in an attempt to make the public aware of the potentially deadly consequences of making such calls.

It is part of efforts to curb malicious call-outs during the school holidays, a time when they traditionally rise.

Police warned that new technology made it easier to trace calls, which could ultimately lead to prosecution.

"We have 17 fire stations across Dumfries and Galloway and a hoax call would remove a fire appliance from one of those stations," said head of fire safety Norman Davies.

"If we are out looking for supposed incidents because of a hoax call then the real incidents have a delayed response.

"If you have a family that is desperately waiting for the fire service to attend it could be the difference between life and death."

Do not abuse the system - we can move to prosecution and we have moved to prosecution a number of times over the past year Insp Robert Togneri

Over the past year 156 hoax calls were made to the fire service in Dumfries and Galloway, 35 of which resulted in crews being deployed.

Insp Robert Togneri said advances in telecommunications had made it easier to track down offenders.

"At the time the calls come in we know where the calls are being made from - quite often we know who is making the calls," he said.

"We are able to identify if they are repeat calls."

'Extreme case'

People caught making bogus calls face having their mobile phones blocked.

Even household landlines can be removed and as a last resort offenders can face prosecution.

"We want people to think before they dial," said Insp Togneri.

"Do not abuse the system - we can move to prosecution and we have moved to prosecution a number of times over the past year.