Brendan Piccini: Murwillumbah RFS volunteer sentenced for intentionally causing fire

Several North Coast firefighters have supported a young volunteer who deliberately lit fires in the Tweed Valley during 2020 to feel ‘part of the team’.

A volunteer RFS firefighter who deliberately lit several blazes has received the ongoing support of his fellow firefighters as he avoided jail.

Murwillumbah man Brendan Piccini, 21, appeared virtually for his appearance in Sydney’s Downing court on Wednesday as he faced judgment for ten counts of intentionally causing fire and being reckless as to its spread.

The court heard Piccini lit a series of fires in the Tweed Valley area between October 7 and November 3, 2020.

Piccini lit the small scale fires with a cigarette lighter and piece of paper before he would drive home and await a triple zero call.

In one instance, Piccini admitted to lighting a fire in the Mooball National Park, though no fire was ever located by the public.

No property or person was harmed by the fires Piccini lit, with emergency services responding quickly to each blaze.

Brendan Piccini was sentenced in Downing Court on Wednesday for r ten counts of intentionally causing fire and being reckless as to its spread.

Judge Dina Yehia said nine out of the 10 fires were “easily identified” and allowed for easy access by fire crews.

“I accept the community entertains a very real concern in relation to bushfires, particularly when they are deliberately lit,” she said.

She said Piccini was an “exceptional case” given his youth and subjective intellectual impairment.

Judge Yehia detailed Piccini had experienced “incessant bullying” in school that was a result of his difficulty learning and undiagnosed ADHD, which influenced the offending.

In one instance of schoolyard bullying, Piccini had been pushed down a flight of stairs and broken bones and the court heard Piccini had the language skills of a 14-year-old.

When Piccini joined the Burringbar Rural Fire Brigade in 2019, the court heard he “felt part of a team”.

“During his time volunteering with the local RFS, he felt that he was ‘part of a group’ and often felt excited to go on calls,” Judge Yehia said.

The court heard Piccini told others he lit the fires for the purpose of going out with a common goal.

“In my head I’m thinking ‘why don’t I light some fires, I can get out and be part of the team,” the court heard.

Brendan Piccini (pictured here in black) walks out of Lismore District Court with a large group of supporters.

Several high ranking North Coast firefighters such as Angus Jones and Murwillumbah captain Greg Hayes, who continues to mentor Piccini, expressed their support for the “hardworking and polite” man with a bright future.

Judge Yehia said Mr Hayes believed Piccini was not trying to cause damage otherwise he would have lit the fires at a different time or condition.

“(Piccini is) a good kid who always wants to please and help people,” Judge Yehia said, reading Mr Hayes’ statement.

The court heard Piccini had personally apologised to the RFS members and was renovating old furniture to donate to the palliative care op-shop while working as a scaffolder.

“Members of the community have rallied to continue to support him and his rehabilitation,” Judge Yehia noted.

She further noted Piccini had spent two months and nine days in pre-sentence custody which was “unsettling and sobering” to the young man.

Judge Yehia convicted Piccini on all offences and sentenced him to a two year Community Corrections Order for one of the fires.

For another two, Piccini received a three year Community Corrections Order.

For the remaining seven, Piccini was given an aggregated Intensive Corrections Order of two years, nine months and 24 days, given his time in custody.

He will also have to participate in community service work.