‘Idiotic, irresponsible, immature’: 13-year-old girl charged with allegedly lighting bushfire

SA Police arrest and charge a teenager over allegedly lighting a bushfire in Adelaide’s south on Wednesday.

A teenager has been arrested and charged for allegedly lighting a grass fire in Adelaide’s south earlier this week, with the blaze almost engulfing nearby homes.

On Friday, SA Police attended a Morphett Vale address and arrested a 13-year-old girl in relation to a scrub fire at Christie Creek on Wednesday.

She was charged with intentionally causing a bushfire and breach of bail.

Residents watch on as flames engulf nearby wetlands.

The incident occurred just after 8.15pm on Wednesday, with police called to a suspicious grass fire in the vicinity of Marston Drive, Morphett Vale.

Footage of the fire, obtained by 7News, shows massive flames engulfing a wetland reserve close to residential homes, with people watching on as emergency services battled the blaze.

One resident who spoke to 7News at the scene, said if the weather was any worse, the fire could have spread.

“If the wind was any stronger, it could have been blown anywhere else,” she said.

“(It’s) idiotic, irresponsible (and) immature.”

Police are on the hunt for an arsonist after a scrub fire threatened Morphett Vale homes. #7NEWSpic.twitter.com/tX6AVdxrOo

— 7NEWS Adelaide (@7NewsAdelaide) February 20, 2025

Another resident said it was unnecessary and that if the police ever found who did it, the person should be made to repair the damage.

“Why do that, it’s a waste, it’s disgusting what is going on in the world?” he said.

“I think it’s disgusting. I think kids are just going out of their way to cause trouble.

“Well, if they find out who done it, they need to come back and fix it … simple.

Local resident speak to 7News about the fire, saying it was "disgusting".

“You break something, you fix it.”

Meanwhile, a number of residents grabbed personal belongings in a rush, as the flames started to creep up to their homes.

Locals say the wetlands are a popular spot for anti-social behaviour, 7News reported.

The fire caused damage to approximately 60 metres of grass and scrubland, and there were no reports of injuries or damage to property.

The teenager did not apply for bail and appeared in Christies Beach Youth Court on Thursday.