Police arrest man after firefighters battle multiple blazes on Eastern Beach Rd
A man was arrested in a park following a Sunday night fire that was not the only one crews had to battle.
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Police have arrested a man following multiple late night fires on Eastern Beach Rd after firefighters battled blazes along the waterfront strip.
At 10.41pm on Sunday, Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) crews attended a tree fire at Austin Park which took them 12 minutes to extinguish following their arrival on the scene.
Immediately after, at 10.54pm, they received multiple reports that a hedge and fence had been set alight at an Eastern Beach Rd residence.
The crews worked swiftly to contain the fire and it was soon put out.
The incident was deemed as suspicious.
Less than an hour later, a 41-year-old man of no fixed address was arrested inside a nearby garden area for allegedly starting the Austin Park blaze.
He was charged with lighting a fire in an open area on a total fire ban day and will appear at the Geelong Magistrates’ Court on February 6.
A Victoria Police spokeswoman said they were investigating the cause of other fires in the area, which did not cause any significant damage.
On Monday, firefighters were called to a grass fire about 6am outside Bunnings on Bellarine Highway in Leopold.
It is also being treated as suspicious by police, who are investigating the exact cause of the blaze.
Anyone with information or anyone who may have witnessed any suspicious activity in the area, with footage, or information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
On December 27, the back door and beer garden at The Sporting Globe in the CBD was damaged by fire.
A witness allegedly saw someone run from the scene after 1am from the venue.
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Originally published as Police arrest man after firefighters battle multiple blazes on Eastern Beach Rd
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