Alleged bushfire starter Terrance Hull pleads not guilty to sparking blaze with angle grinder

The man accused of using a power tool on a high fire danger day and sparking a major bushfire in the northern suburbs has answered the charge in court.

A grass fire quickly went out of control after it was allegedly sparked by an angle grinder in Penfield. Picture: Facebook

The man accused of using a power tool on a high fire danger day and sparking a major bushfire in the northern suburbs has denied any wrongdoing and will now head to trial.

In the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Wednesday, Terrance Christopher Hull officially denied he had started a fire in Penfield late last year.

Mr Hull was arrested last November after allegedly using an angle grinder on an extreme fire danger day – the sparks of which, police said, started the blaze in Penfield.

Terrance Hull leaving court. He has denied causing a bushfire using an angle grinder during major fire danger day last year. Picture: NewsWire / Dean Martin

Amid hot and windy conditions emergency services were called to Womma Road after reports a grass fire had been sparked by an angle grinder and was out of control, burning in a southerly direction near the Edinburgh RAAF base. Picture: CFS

A friend of Mr Hull, Andrew Lockey, was jointly accused but had his charge dropped in March this year.

Emergency services were called to Womma Rd about 2.30pm on Saturday November 2 after reports a grass fire had been sparked by an angle grinder and was out of control, burning in a southerly direction near the Edinburgh RAAF base.

A CFS alert was issued at 3.28pm advising: “Leave now.”

“This bushfire may threaten your safety. Check that the path is clear and go to a safer place. Do not enter this area as conditions are dangerous.”

CFS volunteers on 38 trucks supported by the Metropolitan Fire Service worked to prevent the fire from spreading to nearby structures and water bomber aircraft filling from a local dam doused the fire front from above.

In court on Wednesday, Mr Hull pleaded not guilty to one count of causing a bushfire.

He was remanded on continuing bail to face the District Court in August, where a date will be set for trial.

Originally published as Alleged bushfire starter Terrance Hull pleads not guilty to sparking blaze with angle grinder