Golf course fire in Troon sees teenager arrested

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A teenager has been arrested after fire ripped through a golf course in Troon last night.Smoke was seen billowing from the gorse at Darley's municipal links shortly after 5pm.Police on quad bike patrols were in the area following a spate of recent incidents when they came across the blaze.A 16 year-old male has subsequently been arrested following last night's fire.Troon police inspector, Ian McColl, told Ayrshire Live: "As a result of recent incidents involving wilful fire raising across the municipal golf course at Troon, I directed quad bike patrols in the area so to deter further acts and detect those should there be any. "Yesterday evening whilst on patrol my officers were approached by a member of the public to inform us of the incident."Through some local enquiry the identity of a male responsible was made, subsequently traced and arrested.

A report shall be sent to the COPFS for their attention."I would encourage the community to report any fire raising to ourselves so that we can continue to be proactive in our efforts to detect those responsible. "I shall continue with our proactive high visibility patrols when and where possible."The police quad bikes are deployed in partnership with South Ayrshire Council in a bid to quell any anti-social behaviour.A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: "We were alerted at 5.06pm on Wednesday to reports of a fire in the open in Troon."Operations Control mobilised two fire appliances to the town's Dundonald Road, where firefighters were met by an area of grass and vegetation on fire."Crews extinguished the fire and worked to make the area safe before leaving the scene." Don't miss the latest Ayrshire headlines – sign up to our free daily newsletter here