Hundreds of grass fires burn in Cape Breton every year. (CBC)

Cape Breton regional fire service is taking a new approach in trying to cut down on grass fires. Members of the department are visiting schools in the area to show children the devastation a fire can cause.

Each spring, there are hundreds of grass fires in Cape Breton Regional Municipality, and officials said many of those are deliberately set.

Jim Driscoll, deputy fire chief, said the fires divert resources away from other emergencies.

Driscoll said they’re also bringing a man who was badly burned in a cabin fire to tell his story to the students. Driscoll hopes that by speaking to the children first hand, they’ll realize the consequences of fires.