Men arrested over allegedly deliberately lit fires at Port Curtis and Rockhampton

Two men have been arrested for allegedly deliberately lighting fires in central Queensland.

TWO men have been arrested for deliberately lighting fires in central Queensland.

A tip-off from a member of the public led police to where a 27-year-old man was allegedly attempting to light a grass fire besides the Burnett Hwy at Port Curtis about 11.30am today.

The Rural Fire Brigade, Police and community members worked together to extinguish the fire.

The Rockhampton fire was allegedly set alight in Farm St, near the corner with Haynes St.

The man was arrested and is currently assisting police with their investigations.

It comes as a 26-year-old Rockhampton man was charged with one count of endanger property by fire, after allegedly setting alight vegetation at Rockhampton on November 28.

Police said the fire was set alight in Farm St, near the corner with Haynes St just before 5pm on Wednesday.

Emergency services were alerted by a member of the public and the blaze was brought quickly under control and extinguished.

Nothing was damaged and a small amount of vegetation / grasslands was burnt, police said.

The man is due to appear in the Rockhampton Magistrates Court on December 17.

Officers continue to patrol areas affected by bushfires and the community is encouraged to report suspicious behaviour to police.

Officers continue to patrol areas affected by bushfires and the community is encouraged to report suspicious behaviour to police.

State Disaster Co-ordinator deputy commissioner Bob Gee said police treated arson offences very seriously.

“Arson can have devastating consequences including the potential for loss of life, the destruction of property, livestock and livelihoods,” he said.

“Under the Criminal Code, if a person is found guilty of arson they may be liable to a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. And a 14-year prison sentence is possible for anyone found guilty of unlawfully setting fire to a crop or endangering property by setting fire.”