13-year-old co-offender arrested for arson after Jubilee Pocket fire

A second teenager has been arrested for his role in allegedly ‘deliberately’ lighting a ‘ferocious’ fire inside an abandoned Whitsundays home. LATEST

A second teenager has been arrested for his role in allegedly lighting a ‘ferocious’ fire inside an abandoned Whitsundays home.

It follows police arresting and charging a 12-year-old male with arson on Tuesday afternoon after he and a 13-year-old male reportedly “deliberately lit” a fire in Jubilee Pocket that left a house destroyed.

On Wednesday, Detective Inspector Emma Novosel said Whitsunday Criminal Investigation Branch Officers were still trying to find the 13 year old.

A Queensland Police Service spokesman on Friday morning said officers had since met with the 13-year-old who would be dealt with under the Youth Justice Act. He has not been charged.

Jubilee Pocket resident Laura said she was visiting family on Tuesday afternoon when she heard a “major explosion” behind the supermarket.

Laura said they phoned triple-0 with firefighters arriving about 10 minutes after to discover a house on Shute Harbour Rd was “fully engulfed”.

“The wind was blowing in our direction and it was very dark and very smoky,” Laura said.

Jubilee Pocket resident Laura said the fire that engulfed an abandoned house on Shute Harbour Rd, was “ferocious”. Picture: Estelle Sanchez

Detective Inspector Emma Novosel said there “were a number of witnesses” including children who told police officers they had seen “two young boys leaving the house on scooters” before one returned to watch the blaze.

“In fact, one of the young boys who had been seen leaving was standing among the crowd watching the fire (when officers arrived),” she said.

She said a 12-year-old boy was arrested and taken to Whitsunday Police Station where officers interviewed him, with his father in attendance.

“Obviously the father’s shocked, upset, the young boy I understand was very remorseful and I guess coming to terms with what’s transpired as a result of his actions,” Det Insp Novosel said.

“The house had been unoccupied for some time and was in the process of being demolished by the owner who had plans to use the land for other projects,” she said.

“I understand (the boys) lit a small fire in one part of the house and there’d been some sort of accelerant thrown onto the fire.”

Detective Inspector Emma Novosel speaking no Wednesday, August 29, 2023, about the arson in Jubilee Pocket. Picture: Heidi Petith

Andrew Unsworth, who lived across the road from the fire-damaged property, said he had heard a “big bang”.

He ran to the home and found teenagers who said they had rang triple-0.

“I didn’t even try to go near the house,” Mr Unsworth said, adding he managed to remove the gas bottles from the shed in front of the house to prevent a fireball.

A Jubilee Pocket resident said he managed to throw gas bottles out of a shed in front of a house on fire in Shute Harbour Rd. Picture: Estelle Sanchez

While Mr Unsworth said he was unaware of the house before the blaze, Laura said she had seen people living there about 12 months ago.

“They used to have loud music and parties,” she said.

Det Insp Novosel said the property was already been partly-demolished before the blaze, and there was no indication its owner and the two boys knew each other.

“I understand neither of the boys are known to the police … I know they (the boys) were associating together at the time but I have no idea if they’re related or whether they’re friends.”

Det Insp Novosel said the 12-year-old was not in custody.

A fire in Jubilee Pocket allegedly started by a 12-year-old left a house destroyed with only its structure remaining. Picture: Estelle Sanchez

“There won’t be a court date, he’s being dealt with by virtue of the Youth Justice Act,” she said, adding the Act was focused on rehabilitating youth and keeping them away from the courts.

“If you put yourself in the shoes of the parents of those kids, you’d be alarmed that your child is in someone else’s property, not authorised to be there, and lighting a fire.

“Certainly, it’s not a trend that we’re seeing in the Mackay Whitsunday district at all and I don’t think across the state as far as fires are concerned.

“It still doesn’t mean that it’s not concerning.”