A FIRE chief has hit out at hoax callers after crews were sent out to a false fire in Barrow.

Barrow Fire Station manager Roger Exley warned the public that hoax calls could result in fines or a custodial sentence after a fake caller wasted emergency resources on Monday evening.

A young caller made a ‘malicious call’ to Barrow fire crews about a property in the Newbarns area.

Crews were already dealing with a fire on Fairfield Lane which caused ‘vital resources’ to be sent elsewhere.

“This was a young person and the call was traced to his home address via the landline phone that was used to dial 999,” said Mr Exley.

“Our control can trace the exact location of a landline and the area for a mobile phone.

“The hoax call sent us to the other side of town so our 999 call handlers knew it could possibly be a hoax.

“On this occasion Barrow and Walney were already dealing with a fire on Fairfield Lane.

“Therefore this caused additional vital resources to be sent to the hoax call when they could have been needed at a real fire.

“The ultimate cost of a hoax call could be that someone loses a life in a fire or road accident as local crews could be at the hoax call and then crews further away will take longer to arrive at the real emergency. Also if we have a repeat offender and the person is making many calls they could be prosecuted by the police and be fined or if serious enough get a custodial sentence.

“We are urging people not to make these calls as they are so serious.”