Arsonists light up a dry state

Blue Mountains fire

Leura  … a firefighter attempts to extinguish a blaze / Pic: Damian Baker
Source: The Daily Telegraph





FIREFIGHTERS have been called to hundreds of blazes around the state in the past week, with more than 60 still burning late yesterday.


A number of the blazes are being treated as potential acts of arson.

But in an unusually early start to the bushfire season, many have been caused by private hazard reduction burns gone wrong, with landholders trying to reduce bushfire risk being caught by surprise when strong winds tore through the state on Tuesday.

Police have responded to the deliberately-lit fires by re-activating strike force Tronto and sending specialist resources to the upper Blue Mountains, where up to eight fires since Monday have been identified as the work of a potential firebug.

Improved weather yesterday allowed firefighters across the state to get on top of the situation, with just two uncontained fires remaining by late yesterday – at Leura and near Singleton.

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Specialist remote area firefighting teams backed up by three water-bombing helicopters spent yesterday working in thick bushland in the rugged Jamison Valley to fight the Leura fire which had threatened homes three times since Monday afternoon.

But as firefighters were working, the suspected arsonist struck again about 11.30pm, using an incendiary device to start a fire at Wentworth Falls.

A Rural Fire Service spotter saw the first puffs of smoke and a specialist “strike team” and helicopter were diverted within minutes. They ensured the fire was kept to a small area, while police sealed off roads in an attempt to nab the arsonist.

Rural Fire Service deputy commissioner Rob Rogers confirmed that specialist fire investigators had been sent to various blazes around NSW, saying “there’s certainly a number of other fires under investigation”.

“If these fires do prove to be arson, which they’re suspected to be, really it’s a brazen attempt to light more fires while other fires are still going,” Mr Rogers said. “It is quite concerning that this person may continue that sort of behaviour into summer.”

Mr Rogers said while it was not unusual to have some bushfires this early in the season – especially in the north of the state – the number of fires and the areas affected was surprising.

At the launch of strike force Tronto, property crime squad commander Detective Superintendent Greig Newbery said arsonists faced hefty prison sentences.

“The penalties for arson range from 14 years for lighting a bushfire, up to life imprisonment should somebody die,” Supt Newbery said.

He said 14 detectives – including arson specialists from state crime command – were currently working in the Blue Mountains.

 

 

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