Man arrested for allegedly starting Christmas Day scrub fire

A man has been charged with lighting multiple fires in a nature reserve on Christmas Day.

A man has been arrested over a scrub fire on the southwest coast of Western Australia on Christmas Day.

WA Police will allege the 26-year-old man set fire to several areas of dry grass and foliage at a reserve in Templetonia Promenade in Halls Head, west of Mandurah.

It’s understood the man then walked away while the fires burned.

A man has been arrested over the alleged scrub fire in southwest WA on Christmas Day. Picture: Newswire / Gaye Gerard

Police and fire crews were called to the scene and extinguished the flames, which burned approximately 50 metres of foliage and bushlands.

Thankfully, the fire was extinguished before the flames spread to nearby properties which surround the reserve.

The man was arrested and charged with one count of wilfully light or cause to be lit a fire likely to injure or damage.

He is due to appear at Mandurah Magistrates Court on Friday.

The offence carries a maximum penalty of 20 years behind bars.

Originally published as Man arrested for allegedly starting Christmas Day scrub fire