Three boys from the Rugeley area have been arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life following a deliberate fire in woodland near the town.
Firefighters attended a wildfire off Bower Lane in Etchinghill, near Rugeley, at about 16:45 BST on Thursday. The blaze was brought under control after crews arrived at the scene.
A police investigation into the fire's cause revealed it was started by pieces of wood being set alight and then thrown into the woods. The three boys arrested are aged 12, 13 and 14.
Community assistance in identifying suspects
Inspector Stephen Windridge thanked local residents who helped identify the suspects and their movements through home CCTV footage.
Wider fire service pressures
The incident comes during a period of significant pressure on fire services across the country. Staffordshire and West Midlands Fire Control described Wednesday as one of their busiest days of the year, with 800 calls about incidents.
Area Commander Steve Ball said the combination of parched grass, official drought conditions and high temperatures massively increased the risk of fire. He warned that these conditions were expected to persist.
