Kyle William West: Volunteer firefighter charged with igniting forest blaze, assault with drip torch in Kingaroy Court

“I’ll show you how to light fires”: Police allege a volunteer firefighter charged with deliberately igniting a forest fire in the South Burnett region assaulted a fellow firefighter with a blazing drip torch before kicking a cop. Here’s what happened in court:

A volunteer firefighter charged with deliberately igniting a forest fire in the South Burnett region assaulted a fellow firefighter with a lit drip torch when he attempted to stop him, police allege.

Kyle William West, 27, arrived for training as volunteer rural firefighter at the Ballogie station on October 16 last year when he was told he would not be able to complete his training and needed to go home.

Due to “previous incidents” involving Mr West, he was required to hand in a signed letter from his parents to the station before he could start training, which he failed to provide, police prosecutor Sergeant Lisa Mann told the Kingaroy Magistrates Court.

Sergeant Mann said the 27-year-old left the station, however he returned about an hour later before quickly disappearing again.

At 9am that morning the chairman of the fire station was driving along Chinchilla Wondai Road, near the station, when he allegedly spotted Mr West lighting fires along the highway with a drip torch.

“(Firefighter crews) have attended and observed a 75m fire along the highway, with gusty winds driving the fire,” Sergeant Mann said.

Kyle William West leaving Kingaroy Magistrates Court.

The first firefighter on scene spotted Mr West, who allegedly continued to light fires, despite repeated requests for him to stop.

Sergeant Mann alleged Mr West told the first responder to “f--k off” and “I’ll show you how to light fires”, before swinging the drip torch at him, forcing him to duck.

The torch, which was alight at the time, blew a flame toward the victim and hit him in the shoulder, she further alleged.

Mr West allegedly ran to his car and drove away, however he was stopped by a police officer a short time later who requested he exit the car.

Sergeant Mann said he exited the car and allegedly attempted to grab something from the boot.

The officer told him to stop and they became involved in a struggle, resulting in Mr West allegedly kicking the constable in the leg.

He was arrested and charged with setting fire to vegetation, serious assault of a public officer and assaulting a police officer.

Magistrate Andrew Sinclair adjourned all matters until March 31 for a registry committal.

Mr West is currently on bail.