Fireproof Australia Harbour Bridge protest hits its own roadblock

A planned protest to shutdown the Sydney Harbour Bridge on Thursday fizzled out amid a massive police presence, as four other members affiliated with the group were granted bail

A planned protest to shutdown the Sydney Harbour Bridge on Thursday fizzled out amid a massive police presence, as four other members affiliated with the group were granted bail after allegedly shutting down one of the key roads leading to it on Wednesday.

Fireproof Australia, the group which has caused havoc with a series of rolling protests over the last fortnight, promised to block the iconic bridge in a protest coinciding with the 33rd birthday of one of their members, Andrew George, who this week was jailed for three months after letting off a flare at the Sharks and Tigers NRL game on the weekend.

Their threats resulted in a heavy police presence including more than a dozen police vehicles, an Australian Federal Police boat and riot squad members staking out the Harbour Bridge on Thursday.

But the large scale protest promised fizzed out – with just four members gathering in a park, although there was no remorse from those present over the waste of police resources.

“We’re really mystified as to why they feel they need that excessive presence … we never expected it to be a huge thing,” Fireproof Australia spokeswoman Bonnie Cassen said at the gathering.

A Fireproof Australia protester is escorted off the Harbour Bridge. Photo: Tim Pascoe

Multiple members of the group, including Mr George’s mother Carmin, said police had visited their homes and confiscated tealight candles they intended on lighting at their action.

The group has pledged further action to add to their series of disruptions – ranging from blocking the Spit Bridge in March and blockading Port Botany earlier this month.

Alan Glover, a deputy captain of the NSW Rural Fire Service, leaves the Surry Hills Police Station in Sydney after he was granted bail. Picture: Christian Gilles

It came as four protesters charged over the peak-hour shutdown of the Cahill Expressway on Wednesday were granted bail.

Deanna Coco, 31, Karen Fitz-Gibbon, 44, Jay Larbalestier, 36, and Alan Glover, 65, appeared in Sydney’s Central Local Court on Thursday charged with entering Sydney Harbour Bridge to disrupt vehicles, interfering with the safe operation of the bridge and refusing to comply with police direction.

Police allege two people glued themselves to the lane on Wednesday morning and two others climbed onto the roof of a truck, displaying banners and lighting two flares.

Crown Prosecutor Maja Obirek opposed bail for the four defendants, claiming they would post continued risk to the community if they were released. She told the court an ambulance could not get through to its emergency on Wednesday morning.

Fireproof Australia protesters arrested on Sydney Harbour Bridge on Wednesday. Picture: Michelle Haywood.

Magistrate Brett Shields granted each of them bail on the shared condition they do not contact each other or any other members of the “Fireproof Australia” climate activist group which led the protest.

The lawyer for Glover, who is a deputy captain of the Rural Fire Service and is also charged with lighting a flare at the protest, said his client was concerned for his eligibility to remain in the position if he received a criminal conviction.

Protester Karen Fitzgibbon leaves the Surry Hills Police Station after she was granted bail. Picture: Christian Gilles

Magistrate Shields granted Glover bail on the extra conditions he does not go to the Sydney CBD or within 10km of the Sydney Harbour Bridge – the same conditions imposed on Fitz-Gibbon’s bail.

Two of the protesters in action on Wednesday. Picture: Tim Hunter

Following Wednesday’s protest, Fireproof Australia had warned of a snap roadblock on the harbour Bridge on Thursday to protest George’s jail sentence.

“There is a call-out for a protest tomorrow (at the Sydney Harbour Bridge), protesting the three-month sentence for Andrew George for the horrendous crime of setting off a flare,” a spokesman for the group said.

Serial protesters fireproof Australia have struck

again, this time on the Harbour Bridge.

Protesters blocking the Harbour Bridge, southbound this morning pic.twitter.com/ynwzS9rQ0A

— Graham Thom (@drgrahamthom) April 12, 2022

He said the group of serial pests apologised to people stuck in their roadblocks – but tough luck to anyone in an emergency.

Police spotted gathered near the Sydney Harbour Bridge on Thursday.

“First of all, we have a very firm blue light policy – ambulances or fire vehicles are always let through – but honestly, if you’re desperate for hospital, that’s where you should be, in an ambulance,” he said.“ People in Lismore without a home, they can’t get to work – people in the floods died without being able to get to a hospital – that’s directly impacted by climate change.”

“This is a small inconvenience compared to people already suffering due to the climate crisis and it pales in significance to what comes down the line.”

A Fireproof Australia holds a flare as

as frustrated police look on.

Wednesday’s protest caused massive headaches for city commuters, with video footage showing two protesters, a man and woman, standing on top of the truck and with lit flares.

In a social video live stream from Fireproof Australia, cars trying to cross the bridge could be heard sounding their horns.

The protest again caused huge tailbacks for Sydney traffic with vehicles banked all the way back to the Lane Cove Tunnel.

Tough new anti-protest laws have so far failed to deter activists who have repeatedly caused mayhem across the city.

The new laws that make it illegal to seriously disrupt vehicles or pedestrians on roads if the road is identified in government regulations.