Dundee fire chiefs fear a spate of blazes across the city could have been started by bored youngsters.
Police are investigating four deliberate fires at high-profile sites in the city.
Separate blazes at the abandoned Strathmartine Hospital and Baxter Park Pavilion are being looked into, along with fires set at the old Keiller building on Mains Loan and a derelict factory on Forties Road.
Dundee East station manager Craig Thomson concedes there may be a link between school holidays and malicious fires.
He said: “Traditionally we do see a rise in deliberate fire-setting around the school holidays in April and October.
“We think this may be down to lighter nights in April and in the build up to bonfire night in October/November time.”
He continued: “There’s no obvious link between the four recent fires but we have seen a slight spike in deliberate fires involving derelict buildings.
“It is frustrating. The crux of it is that if we are attending fires that are preventable then we could be doing something else.
“No one has lost their life yet in relation to these instances but any needless call or needless fire may have that impact.”
Despite the recent increase in careless fire-setting, Craig is keen to stress the progress being made by partnerships between emergency services and the community.
He feels it is crucial to work with children and ensure they are shown the detrimental impact their behaviour can have.
He said: “The majority of our work is about engaging with the local community and ensuring people understand the impact these crimes have on the local community.
“The average cost of a small fire is £2,000, so adding up all these instances is expensive.”
A police spokesperson said: “Police Scotland would like to take this opportunity to remind the public that derelict buildings and properties that are unused and have fallen into disrepair, whether large or small, are not safe environments to be in or around.
“Whether it’s children who wrongly think such buildings serve as a playground or place to explore, or the less well-intentioned looking to steal property, the message is the same keep out and stay clear.”