CFA volunteer arrested for arson in Victoria, Australia

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An arsonist has been setting fires in the Dandenong Ranges National Park in Victoria, Australia for the last four years. Maybe this arrest will be the end of it.

From the AAP:

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A Country Fire Authority volunteer charged with lighting scrub fires in Melbourne’s outer east since September last year has been remanded in custody. The 36-year-old man, who was not named, appeared in an out of session court hearing before a bail justice in the kitchen of the nearby Lilydale Police Station on Thursday night.

The man was arrested by Lilydale detectives on Wednesday after seven small scrub fires were reported burning on roadsides around Mount Evelyn about 2pm. The accused faces 23 counts each of deliberately lighting a bushfire and conduct endangering life, along with a drink-driving charge.

Lilydale Detective Senior Constable Brigette De Chirico told the hearing police would oppose bail because the accused was “an unacceptable risk to the community because he’s likely to commit further offences whilst on bail”.

She said the accused suffered depression, had an ongoing alcohol problem and allegedly committed the offences while “heavily intoxicated”.

“He has difficulty controlling his behaviour whilst he is intoxicated,” Detective De Chirico said.

The accused did not apply for bail. The bail justice, who was not named, remanded the man to appear in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Friday.

Speaking after the hearing, Lilydale Senior Detective Sergeant Allan Price said the charges related to fires deliberately lit as far back as September last year.

He said a team of detectives and support staff had worked “around the clock” since the investigation was launched in mid-November. He praised the community’s assistance which he said led to the arrest.

“It’s a real weight off a lot of people’s shoulders, the police and the community and these things don’t happen without the assistance of the community and they have been fantastic,” he said.

The Mount Evelyn man was arrested by local detectives on Wednesday after seven small scrub fires were reported burning on roadsides around the Mount Evelyn area, in Melbourne’s outer east, at about 2pm (AEDT).

A CFA spokesman confirmed earlier on Thursday that the man in custody was a volunteer but would not say how long he had been part of the organisation.

CFA chief executive Mick Bourke said volunteer screening processes involved police checks.

“The screening is that national police check process, which we started many years ago,” Mr Bourke told ABC Radio.

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Author: Bill Gabbert

After working full time in wildland fire for 33 years, he continues to learn, and strives to be a Student of Fire.