Three boys aged 12, 13 and 14, all from the Rugeley area, have been arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life following a wildfire in woodland in Staffordshire on Thursday afternoon.
Staffordshire Police were called to a report of a wildfire off Bower Lane in Etching Hill, Rugeley, at around 4:15pm on 30 July 2026. The fire was brought under control by fire crews who attended the scene.
Following an inspection, investigators determined that the fire was started deliberately. Pieces of wood were set alight and then thrown into the woodland, causing the blaze.
Rapid investigation leads to arrests
Police said they made three arrests after a rapid investigation into the woodland fire. The suspects are now in custody for questioning.
Inspector Stephen Windridge, local operational inspector for the area, praised the community's assistance. “I would like to express my thanks to local residents who helped us identify the suspects and their movements early on through home CCTV,” he said. “This has led to the arrest of three suspects who are now in custody for questioning.”
Appeal for further information
Police are continuing to appeal for anyone who may have witnessed the incident or who has CCTV or dashcam footage from the local area at the time to come forward. They are asked to contact Staffordshire Police via the website live chat, quoting incident number 583 of 30 July.
The arrests come after a troubling summer for Staffordshire, where several wildfires have been reported in dry conditions. The deliberate nature of this fire has raised concerns among local residents and authorities about fire safety and the potential for harm to people, wildlife and property.
The three boys, all from the Rugeley area, are being held on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life, a serious offence that carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. The incident number 583 of 30 July should be quoted in any correspondence with police.
Local community safety teams are expected to follow up with educational programmes in schools to highlight the dangers of setting fires, particularly during dry spells when the risk of wildfire escalation is high.
