A teenage volunteer firefighter has been charged with deliberately lighting several bushfires in the Hunter Valley this year.
Earlier this month, Arson Unit detectives from the State Crime Command’s Financial Crimes Squad established Strike Force Glenarvon to investigate a number of suspicious blazes in the region.
About 8.20am on Wednesday 30 August, they attended a home in Aberglasslyn where they arrested an 18-year-old man.
He was taken to Maitland Police Station and charged with 15 offences, including intentionally cause fire and be reckless as to its spread (13 counts); and destroy etc property in company use fire etc <=$2000 (two counts).
He was refused bail to appear at Maitland Local Court on Thursday 31 August.
Financial Crimes Squad Commander Acting Superintendent Richard Puffett said as the bushfire season in NSW approached, his team was committed to investigating any fires suspected of being suspicious or known to be deliberately lit.
“Our state has had a number of years of extreme weather from floods to fires,” he explained.
“The coming months will only get warmer.
“With a large amount of dry vegetation across our state, we are urging members of the public to be vigilant during this year’s bushfire season.
“If you see or notice anything suspicious, please contact police.
“Strike Force Tronto officers are committed to targeting arsonists who wish to bring devastation to our environment and our communities.
“Bushfires can not only be damaging, they can be deadly.”
Police are claiming the man deliberately lit fires in grassland at Weston, Pelaw Main, Bellbird, Greta, Aberglasslyn, Melville and Cessnock throughout July and August.
It will be further alleged in court that he later attended some of the fires as an NSW RFS volunteer and assisted in extinguishing the blazes.
Strike Force Tronto, comprised of detectives from Arson Unit, is the lead investigative team on suspicious or deliberately-lit bushfires which lead to death, serious injury or significant property loss.
Penalties relating to bushfires under the NSW Crimes Act, the Rural Fires Act, and Rural Fires Regulation include:
- Damaging property with the intention of endangering life – up to 25 years’ imprisonment;
- Manslaughter – up to 25 years imprisonment;
- Starting a bushfire and being reckless as to its spread – up to 21 years’ imprisonment;
- Lighting a fire when a total fire ban is in place – up to 12 months’ imprisonment and/or a $5500 fine;
- Not putting out a fire that you have lit – up to 12 months’ imprisonment and/or a $5500 fine;
- Failing to comply with a bush fire hazard reduction notice – up to 12 months’ imprisonment and/or a $5500 fine;
In a life-threatening emergency or if a bushfire is in progress, members of the public should always phone Triple Zero (000).
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