Police hunt fire bug over 13 fires, including at Craigieburn golf course
A fire bug who tried to set alight a fairway at the Craigieburn golf course has been linked to more than a dozen blazes across the suburb. Police have called for public help to try and find the serial fire starter.
North
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A fire bug who tried to set alight a fairway at the Craigieburn golf course has been linked to more than a dozen blazes across the suburb.
Detectives are hunting the serial fire starter, believed to be a man, in connection with 13 blazes in bushland around Craigieburn, including one at the golf course on October 23.
Hume detective Senior Sergeant Ray Freeman said a motorist was travelling along Golf View Drive about 8.20pm when they saw a man lighting a fire underneath a line of pine trees.
“The witness flashed their car headlights at the person and they appeared to douse the fire and run off,” Sen-Sgt Freeman said.
“The witness checked the fire was out before the Craigieburn CFA attended.
“It appears the man had used pine needles and sticks to try and light the fire.”
Police are also investigating another fire that exploded a window at a house in Leveque Loop on October 26, only a few hundred metres away from Golf View Drive.
Sen-Sgt Freeman said a passer-by noticed smoke coming from the house just before midday and alerted the occupant before calling triple-0.
When firefighters arrived they found the blaze had taken hold of two fences and foliage in the garden.
“It caused a window to break from the heat and damaged a gas meter and garbage bins,” Sen-Sgt Freeman said.
Other suspicious fires being probed by detectives have been started in Lakes Drive, Yarcombe Cres, Hothlyn Drive and The Greenway near Tusmore Rise.
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Detective Sergeant James Marsden said, luckily, fuel loads were low but with dry weather there was always a chance of a blaze getting out of control.
An eagle-eyed pilot coming into land at Melbourne Airport recently helped emergency services stop a major fire in Oaklands Junction after an abandoned pile of building materials caught alight.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.