Luke Justin Lawson charged with arson, weapons offences after Wurtulla fire

A Sunshine Coast man has been hit with nearly ten charges after a devastating house and car fire destroyed the possessions of a mother and her young daughter.

Luke Justin Lawson has been charged with arson following a house fire at Wurtulla on Wednesday. Picture: Facebook/contributed

A Caloundra West man has been charged with arson following a devastating Sunshine Coast house fire which destroyed a car and left a mother and her child without a home.

Luke Justin Lawson was arrested hundreds of metres from the scene of a house fire in Baroona St at Wurtulla in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

Initial investigations state the fire started in the driveway which destroyed a vehicle and spread to the house.

A man, a woman and a child inside the house escaped without physical injuries and firefighters extinguished the blaze.

Police patrolled the area and located Lawson nearby, who they allege is known to those in the Wurtulla home.

The aftermath of the blaze which engulfed the Wurtulla home. Picture: Patrick Woods

Police allege they found multiple firearms in Lawson’s Holden which was noticeably damaged.

He has since been charged with three counts of unlawful possession of a weapon, two counts of arson and one count each of enter dwelling and commit, possess explosives and drive without due care and attention.

During his mention in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Thursday morning, Lawson had not yet been charged with arson, and instructed duty lawyer Matthew Cooper to apply for bail.

Mr Cooper said he was aware the arson charge was looming and asked for the matter to be adjourned to allow this to happen.

Magistrate Rod Madsen said the arson case was “pretty strong” from what he already read.

“He was seen leaving ... he was seen doing as well,” Mr Madsen said.

Lawson made no application for bail and was remanded in custody.

He is due to appear in court on Friday.