Police speaking to juveniles over devastating Peregian fire

Queensland’s top cop has urged parents to talk to their children, after confirming some of the fires that have hit Queensland in the past few days “have just clearly gotten away from kids thinking they are having fun”.

QUEENSLAND’S top cop has urged parents to talk to their children, as police speak to a number of teenagers about a blaze which ripped through Peregian overnight.

Speaking at a press conference at QFES headquarters this morning, Queensland Police commissioner Katarina Carroll warned that kids were being caught playing with fire during times of extreme fire danger, and said parents needed to step in.

She said Taskforce Overcross had been established to look at, prevent, disrupt and investigate the fires that had occurred over the last several days.

“Some of the behaviour has been unfortunately reckless,” she said.

“Some fires have just clearly gotten away from kids thinking they are having fun,” Ms Carroll said.

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“There has been reckless and purposeful behaviour from others.”

Ms Carroll asked parents to please talk with their children about conditions around southeast Queensland, which is facing an unprecedented fire danger.

“The consequences of some of these fires are dire,” Ms Carroll said. “These are not usual conditions, they are actually quite dangerous.”

“Parents, please speak to your children.”

She warned that the consequences of destructive and deadly fires can include life in prison.

The message comes as police confirmed they are speaking to a number of juveniles in relation to the fire that tore through communities in the Sunshine Coast overnight.

A police spokesman however refused to confirm whether they are treating the fire as suspicious or not.

He said the investigation was only in its early stages.

The bushfire is understood to have destroyed at least 12 homes in Peregian Beach.

A social media post from the Peregian Beach Surf and Lifesaving club claimed it had taken a screen shot of “a local teenage chat room where two boys have admitted to lighting the fires”.

“We have been advised that the same screen shots with the boys’ names clearly identified are now in the hands of the local police,” the club said.

Residents have been evacuated from a fire outbreak along David Low Way, Peregian Beach, near Lorikett Drive. Photo Patrick Woods / Sunshine Coast Daily.

Acting police Superintendent Jason Overland said they were “talking to lots of people” regarding a fire which started in the Peregian area yesterday and is currently moving north.

He would not confirm the reports a number of teenagers were being questioned in relation to the fire.

“There’s a lot going on at that fire front, although it is a priority the first priority is the safety of the people of the Sunshine Coast,” he said.

Supt Overland said in the past 12 hours police had doorknocked homes, but they had not had to remove anyone forcibly.

“If we have to get to the point where we are removing people from their home we have lost the fight really,” he said.

“The Sunshine Coast community are very on board, and looking after each other.”

Residents have been evacuated from a fire outbreak along David Low Way, Peregian Beach, near Lorikett Drive. Photo Patrick Woods / Sunshine Coast Daily.

Bureau of Meteorology weather services manager Richard Wardle said dangerously dry conditions were set to continue for another week at least, with no substantial rainfall predicted.

“Unfortunately the long term outlook is that we expect above-average temperatures for Friday and Saturday at least, so we expect to see those very high fire danger ratings continue or return at the end of the week,” Mr Wardle said.

He said firefighters could expect a ‘respite’ tomorrow and Thursday with easing wind conditions.