Suspicious fires between Shepparton and Mooroopna under investigation

Mattresses were the fuel for a number of suspicious blazes fireys have had to battle between Shepparton and Mooroopna in recent days, as police investigate the fires.

Forest Fire Management units responded to six of eight fires between Shepparton and Mooroopna in four days. Picture: Mark Stewart

Mattresses were the fuel for a number of suspicious blazes fireys have had to battle between Shepparton and Mooroopna in recent days, as police investigate the fires.

Firefighters from Forest Fire Management Victoria and the CFA were called out to eight blazes between Friday and Monday.

The FFMV units contained flames lit in grass and under trees near the shared bike and pedestrian path between the two towns.

FFMV incident controller Bruce Wehner said there were three fires on Friday, two on Saturday, one on Sunday and another two on Monday in the Shepparton Regional Park.

“All the fires have been ignited close to the shared bike path,” he said.

“The biggest one was the first one on Friday which was about 30m by 15m.

“Some were out in the open and some under trees.

“The weather has been pretty kind to us, we’ve been able to pull them up so they’ve been burning but we’ve got to them pretty quick.”

Mr Wehner said the CFA were great getting out quickly and knocking fires down with a tanker.

Eight fires were lit in scrubland between Shepparton and Mooroopna across four days.

FFMV crews then spent time patrolling and fully extinguishing the fire.

“They’re obviously suspicious, there’s been no lightning out there in weeks,” he said.

“The fire danger at this time of year is pretty low, really although it is very dry out there.

“You’ve got the tussock grasses that can be a metre high but in between them, it’s just sort of bare ground and dry leaves.

“For 12 months of the year, you can’t light fires like that in the in the forest, unless it’s a campfire within the regulations in a pit that’s cleared around, and these aren’t campfires.”

A Victoria Police spokeswoman said officers would investigate and act to catch people responsible when a fire was deemed suspicious, whether it was a deliberate or reckless action.

“Anyone found guilty of recklessly or intentionally causing a bushfire faces a penalty of up to 15 years imprisonment,” she said.

“The community also plays an incredibly important role in the prevention of bushfires and remains key in reporting reckless or suspicious behaviour.

“Police are keen to speak to anyone who witnesses concerning behaviour in relation to fires, or anyone who has been told about this behaviour taking place.”