Head of CFS condemns Hills firebug John McGannon for claiming ties to the CFS

A firebug who nearly caused a second Ash Wednesday has been damned in court for daring to claim ties to the volunteers who extinguished his blaze.

The head of the CFS has condemned the Cherry Gardens firebug for “daring” to claim ties to the agency after committing an “abhorrent” act that left firefighters “under pressure to prevent the next Ash Wednesday”.

In the District Court on Tuesday, CFS chief officer Brett Loughlin read a victim impact statement on behalf of all those affected by the crimes of former volunteer firefighter Gregory John McGannon.

He said McGannon’s seven deliberately lit fires required 2188 volunteers, 411 appliances, eight aircraft and 75 loads of fire-suppressant liquid to contain.

CFS chief officer Brett Loughlin condemned former volunteer firefighter and firebug, Gregory John McGannon, for claiming ties to the agency. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Kelly Barnes

Everyone involved, he said, was “under constant pressure to prevent the next Ash Wednesday”, knowing “their friends and families were at risk”.

“That puts a tremendous burden on our personnel, along with the psychological impact and trauma in the days and weeks that follow,” he said.

“That’s only amplified when they know multiple roadside ignitions means the fires are not accidental but, instead, the wilful and deliberate actions of a criminal.

“They relived the experience through this trial, questioning whether their superhuman effort was enough.

“That this individual dared to identify themselves as a former CFS volunteer just adds insult to injury and serves to tarnish the reputation of our members and our agency.”

Gregory John McGannon was remanded in custody for further sentencing submissions next month. Picture: Emma Brasier

McGannon, 63, of Hallett Cove, was found guilty by a jury of lighting the January 24, 2021 bushfires at Cherry Gardens and Clarendon, and driving dangerously to escape police.

The jury heard that, after lighting seven fires, he was caught with cigarette lighters, defaced licence plates and a blood alcohol reading of 0.145.

Since his arrest – during which he told police he spent “30 years in the CFS” – McGannon has maintained he was trying to extinguish the fires, not light them.

When his victims spoke of their terror while confronting the “tsunami of flame”, McGannon sighed, fidgeted with papers and shook his head.

On Tuesday, Judge Emily Telfer remanded McGannon in custody for further sentencing submissions next month.

Outside court, Mr Loughlin said the CFS “had no leniency” for McGannon’s crimes.

“I will be honest – whether he was a volunteer (firefighter) or wasn’t is of no consequence to the men and women who are volunteers today,” he said.

“His actions in the past don’t carry any weight for the actions he’s been held accountable for in court today.”