Police are investigating a suspicious fires which resulted in many emergency call outs for Sunbury and Diggers Rest last week.
Photography from the Melton and Moorabool Weekly
It began on Tuesday, 14 February 2014, when a grass fire started at the end of Moore Road, Sunbury to quickly spread across the Calder Freeway. At the same time the emergency services were confronted with two other call outs. Extreme heat persisted for the next four days; killing plants, distressing animals and turning the grass and trees into a fire hazard. Over those days, many more grass fires started including: two near the Thunderdome, one at Vineyard Road, one at Emu Bottom and several others alongside main roads.Some locals speculate that it may have been cigarette butts but the fires mainly occurred while the total fire ban was in place.
Arson is a terrible crime. Usually animals die, people's health is impacted and homes can be destroyed because of uncaring, stupid firebugs. The maximum penalty for arson causing death in Victoria is 25 years imprisonment. The maximum penalty for intentionally or recklessly causing a bushfire is 15 years imprisonment.
Did you see anything? Your knowledge could bring a criminal to justice and save some lives. If you saw any suspicious actions then call CrimeStoppers on 1800 333 000 or crimestoppers.com.au.
