Man jailed for deliberately lighting bushfire, then starting another fire in front of police

IF police officers find you at the scene of a bushfire on a 40C day, it’s not a smart move to then set a mattress on fire in front of them … and ask for a lift home. A series of really bad choices landed this SA man behind bars.

A MAN who lit a bushfire in the middle of summer, and then set a mattress alight in front of police officers as they investigated the first blaze, will spend at least six months behind bars for the reckless crime.

Ronald Fatt, 31, pleaded guilty in the District Court to intentionally causing a bushfire in his home town of Coober Pedy earlier this year.

The court heard police were alerted to a scrub fire near Hospital Rd and Umoona Rd about 1pm on January 23 and arrived to find a large fire behind the local ambulance buildings and Mine Rescue building.

Judge Barry Beazley said it was fortunate the area was sparsely vegetated or it could have developed into a more serious bushfire.

“What was particularly dangerous was that the temperature at the time of the offending was 40C, with a humidity of 23.5 per cent and a wind speed of something between 8 and 21km/h,” he said.

“The police observed you still in the area, and notwithstanding their presence, you then leaned over and set a mattress on fire with that cigarette lighter.

“When police approached you, you gave them the cigarette lighter and asked them to drop you at home.”

The court heard Fatt was “heavily affected by alcohol” and recorded a blood alcohol reading of 0.217.

“When you were asked by your counsel to explain why you had done this, you described it as simply doing a silly thing — you were angry about something,” Judge Beazley said.

The fire did not damage any nearby buildings but destroyed irrigation piping.

Fatt was sentenced to 21 months in jail with a non-parole period of six months.

With time already served in custody, he will be eligible for release on July 23.