SA Police launch Operation Nomad, targeting 229 firebugs, ahead of South Australian fire danger season

POLICE will have their eye on 229 known firebugs this fire danger season and have encouraged the public to be vigilant and report signs of arsonists practising their craft.

POLICE will have their eye on 229 known firebugs this fire danger season and have encouraged the public to be vigilant and report signs of arsonists practising their craft.

SA Police Assistant Commissioner Linda Williams launched this year's Operation Nomad, which monitors known firebugs through various tactics, at Cleland on Tuesday.

Ms Williams said some arsonists were prone to practising, lighting smaller fires before attempting a larger target, and that this could lead to early identification and apprehension.

"These practice runs can appear as random patches of burned earth or trees along walking trails, or local parks, or even a scorched fence," she said.

"We want to know where they are appearing. This information may lead us to the arsonist before they do the type of damage we have recently witnessed across NSW.

"Bushfire arson can kill, destroys property and causes enormous suffering and loss, so we need to stamp out this problem with a prevention-first approach."

Operation Nomad will actively target 229 persons of interest, 28 who have been identified as high risk, 77 as a significant risk and 124 as a possible risk.

Officers will regularly visit those identified as being a high or significant risk, including daily visits on days of extreme or catastrophic fire danger rating.

Automatic Numberplate Recognition Cameras will also be used to identify vehicles associated with the Nomad watch list.

Of the 735 fires in the last Operation Nomad period - between November 1 last year and April 30 this year - 79 were defined as deliberate and 112 as suspicious.

Police arrested 10 people and reported a further 33, some of them young children, in relation to those fires.

Country Fire Service deputy chief officer Andrew Lawson said deliberately lit fires frustrated firefighters immensely.

"Any fire that is unnecessary places unnecessary burden, stress, trauma on our people and the community," he said.

Mr Lawson said fuel loads were above average, heightening the risk of damaging bushfires.

"The fuel loads in this part of the state (Mount Lofty Ranges) are slightly above average," he said.

"We've had good winter rains and so far had good spring rains so the fuel loads are a little bit above average.

"The northern areas of the state, above Port Augusta, the fuel loads are higher this year.

"There is potential for significant bushfire right across South Australia this year."

The fire danger season starts on Friday for the Eastern Eyre Peninsula, Flinders, Lower Eyre Peninsula, North East Pastoral, North West Pastoral and West Coast districts.

It will start on November 15 for the Mid North, Murraylands, Riverland, Upper South East and Yorke Peninsula.

The Lower South East's fire danger season will start on November 22, while the Mount Lofty Ranges, Kangaroo Island and Adelaide Metropolitan areas will start on December 1.

Anyone who notices suspicious activity can report it to police by calling 131 444.

Reporting information on arsonists and their activities can be done through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online www.sa.crimestoppers.com.au.