Major Crime detectives assist in Cherry Gardens bushfire investigation as accused Hills arsonist is revealed as former CFS volunteer

An alleged arsonist at the centre of an investigation into Sunday’s bushfires has been revealed to be a former CFS volunteer.

CFS trucks at the Cherry Gardens fire. Picture: Salisbury Country Fire Service

A man accused of lighting a bushfire at Clarendon on a day of extreme fire danger was once a longtime Country Fire Service volunteer.

The Advertiser can reveal the Hallett Cove man, 60, was a member of an Adelaide Hills brigade for much of the 1970s and 1980s.

The Clarendon fire on Sunday was about 10km from Cherry Gardens, where multiple small fires had ignited two hours earlier before merging into a large and devastating bushfire.

Major Crime detectives have been called in to assist South Coast police investigate how those blazes started. They have seized the man’s phone and smartwatch to look for clues to his movements and possible links between the fires.

The man, whose name is suppressed, was a member of an Adelaide Hills CFS brigade for more than a decade in the 1970s and 80s.

At about 6pm on Sunday, police allegedly spotted the man speeding away from a freshly lit fire on Piggott Range Rd, Clarendon.

He was allegedly drink-driving in a car with altered number plates and refused to pull over, but was arrested after a short pursuit.

A burnt out structure on Mount Bold Road after the Cherry Gardens fire. Photo by Kelly Barnes

GALLERY: Dramatic photos from the Cherry Gardens fire

On Monday, a magistrate agreed to temporarily suppress the man’s name as investigations continue.

About two hours before the man’s arrest, six smaller fires had ignited and merged to form the giant Cherry Gardens bushfire, which destroyed 2700ha as well as two homes and dozens of buildings.

It was only contained after a heavy downpour doused the fire ground on Monday.

Research into the man’s background shows his name appearing on the roll of a CFS brigade in the Hills and sources confirmed he was a volunteer for a number of years.

The CFS declined to comment when asked about the man’s background, citing the ongoing court case and suppression order.

The reason for the man leaving the brigade after a lengthy period volunteering remains unknown.

What little is known about the man shows an interest in emergency services. He took to social media several times in the last five years voicing support for laws protecting paramedics and police from violence, as well as thanking firefighters and other emergency services.

Inspector Gus Sickerdick. Picture: Mike Burton

As part of the investigation into the fire, Inspector Gus Sickerdick said officers were examining swathes of burnt ground “with a fine-tooth comb”.

According to world-leading scientist Professor Adrian Linacre, that could involve gathering more DNA evidence across the fireground, which would be an “extremely challenging” race against the clock.

Speaking anecdotally about the challenges of arson investigations, Prof Linacre said investigators must examine the ground while “on hands and knees” for clues.

The Flinders University expert said investigators would need to move quickly, as intense heat and heavy rain breaks down DNA.

“Just imagine bits of material, like skin cells on a match. If you wash it away the (DNA) goes,” he said.

“And if you’ve got a very small amount (of DNA) to begin with, any breakdown is bad news – it diminishes the chance of getting a profile.”

The man, who appeared emotionless via video link from the Christies Beach Police Station cells, did not apply for bail on Monday.

He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years jail if found guilty of the charge of intentionally causing a bushfire.

The police investigation centres on analysing the man’s phone and whether he has links to other fires on Sunday. DNA, fingerprints and toxicology reports are also being prepared by Forensic Science SA.