Off-duty SES member Craig Mann-Jones extinguishes fire in allegedly stolen car in Bayview Heights

An off-duty State Emergency Service member’s fast response prevented an allegedly stolen car being further damaged by a deliberately lit fire when he noticed the vehicle’s interior filling with smoke on Saturday evening.

An off-duty State Emergency Service member’s fast response prevented an allegedly stolen car being further damaged by a deliberately lit fire when he noticed the vehicle’s interior filling with smoke on Saturday evening.

SES Edmonton team leader Craig Mann-Jones, 50, said he was driving through Bayview Heights on his way home from the gym when he noticed three vehicles parked on the side of the road and recognised one as being reported as stolen.

“I follow all the social media crime pages and recognised a car so I turned around and called police,” he said.

“Then I saw two cars take off but the third hadn’t, when I looked the windows inside were blacked out by smoke.

“I tried to use a garden hose but it wasn’t long enough so I filled my gym water-bottle and doused the towel which alight on the driver’s seat.”

Off-duty SES Edmonton team leader Craig Mann-Jones, 50, said on March 26 he was driving through Bayview Heights when he recognised a stolen car and on closer inspection saw it filled with smoke and stopped to assir as two other nearby vehicles fled the scene. Picture: Supplied.

Earlier in the day, Ngaire Shelley had posted a request for Cairns residents to look out for a the “white Toyota Camry rego 125RRS stolen from Malaponte Close, Gordonvale”.

“Please keep an eye out. there will be damage to the back passenger side as they took out our letterbox and hit our daughters car on the way out”.

Off-duty SES Edmonton team leader Craig Mann-Jones, 50, said he driving through Bayview Heights on his way home from the gym when he noticed three vehicles parked on the side of the road and recognised one as being reported as stolen.. Picture: Supplied

Mr Mann-Jones was later able to reply and let Ms Shelley know what he had seen happen.

“Sorry I was not fast enough to prevent more damage...only had a gym water bottle,” he posted.

“Car has been saved, QFES arrived to make sure no other spot fires.”

More vehicles are allegedly being stolen around Cairns and set on fire. Picture: Supplied

Later Ms Shelley posted her thanks.

The incident was one of several Cairns cars allegedly being torched over the weekend.

Whether an attempt to destroy evidence such as fingerprints or DNA or simply a malevolent desire to cause havoc, the numbers of stolen vehicles being torched in the Cairns area appears to be increasing.

A car was allegedly set on fire in Edge Hill on March 25, 2023. Picture: Supplied

On social media several people have reported car fires over the past few days including one at Edge Hill on Monday night and one outside the Mt Sheridan Plaza on Saturday evening.

According to police, as of March 28, 80 vehicles have been stolen in the Cairns area for the month, up from 70 in February, making it 280 stolen so far in 2023.

RACQ Insurance reported in an 87.5 per cent increase in car theft claims in Cairns for 2021 - 2022 as the number of claims soared from 80 to 150 from 2002 - 2021.

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Originally published as Off-duty SES member Craig Mann-Jones extinguishes fire in allegedly stolen car in Bayview Heights