Yarra Ranges police cracking down on illegal burn-offs

PEOPLE living in some of the state’s most bushfire-prone areas are flouting laws banning burn-offs, as police also crack down on high-risk arson locations in a bid to prevent blazes.

Police are cracking down on people burning off illegally. Picture: Eyewatch — Yarra Ranges Police Service Area Facebook

YARRA Ranges police are cracking down on people burning off illegally, with four people set to face court for lighting fires during the fire danger period.

Police are also patrolling high-risk arson locations and monitoring “people of interest” in a bid to prevent bushfires this summer.

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In a post on the Eyewatch -Yarra Ranges Police Service Area Facebook page, police said four people would charged on summons after being caught burning off during prohibited times.

The post said a 64-year-old Narre Warren East man, a 58-year-old Sassafras man and a 26-year-old Mt Evelyn man were interviewed in relation to illegal burn-offs.

A 27-year-old Millgrove man was also interviewed about another illegal fire.

“Please be aware that burning off is prohibited throughout the Shire of Yarra Ranges and police have a zero-tolerance approach to those who flout the ban,” the post read.

Yarra Ranges acting Inspector Vin Butera urged the community to be mindful of their activities during the fire danger period.

“Like arson, a recklessly lit fire is a crime that carries severe penalties,” he said.

“Recklessness can be a range of things such as failing to properly extinguish a campfire or using tools such as angle grinders on a day of total fire ban.”

He said while people might see these incidents as accidents, it had the potential to cause injury, death and property damage, and was a drain on resources.

“It could be your actions that result in loss of life or property,” acting Insp Butera said.

He said police would also monitor suspected firebugs and patrol high-risk arson locations over summer.

“If you believe a person, or vehicle, is behaving in a suspicious manner, write down the details,” he said.

Recording as much information straight away and phoning 000 would help police, he said.

The call comes after a 15-year-old girl was charged with deliberately lighting a bushfire in Carrum Downs last Saturday which saw about 30 residents evacuated and one property damaged.

CFA district 13 operations manager David Rankin said the outer east had fared well during the soaring 40C conditions that day, with no fires reported.

But Mr Rankin warned people to remain vigilant.

He said grass and forests were dry, and the summer forecast was expected to be warm, with continued bushfire danger.

“Keep an eye out and report what you see early so we can get as many crews and vehicles as we can to keep whatever fire starts as small as possible,” he said.

“There is certainly potential to carry fire within the district so people need to be vigilant and don’t burn off without a written permit.”