Cops chase arsonist after series of suspicious fires

Tablelands CIB officers are on the hunt for a serial fire bug, and are appealing for information following suspicious fires lit in bushland surrounding Mareeba.

The Mareeba Rural Fire Brigade is concerned about grass fuel loads following recent rain.

Police officer from the Tablelands Criminal Investigation Branch are on the hunt for a serial fire bug and have appealed for information following suspicious blazes lit in bushland surrounding Mareeba.

On May 10, emergency services were called to the yard of a Walsh Street address around 7am, following reports of a mattress on fire.

The blaze was extinguished and no one was injured.

At 7.30am, emergency services responded to a house fire at a Couper Street address.

The sole occupant sustained minor injuries.

Around the same time, a small fire was lit in scrubland near lower Byrnes Street and was extinguished by an unknown man in a white utility.

Detectives are appealing for anyone, who was travelling on Byrnes Street, Couper Street and Walsh Street between 6.50am and 7.30am on May 10, to come forward.

Anyone with dashcam vision or who witnessed suspicious behaviour is urged to contact police.

Before the start of the northern fire season Assistant Chief Officer for the Savannah District Rural Fire Service Clint Tunnie said now was the time for residents to prepare.

“Now is the time to do hazard mitigation when we have a low fire risk and the weather is conducive to carry out those burns,” he said.

The Rural Fire Service chief said throughout the district residents can expect to see hazard reduction burns on crown land aimed at reducing the severity of fires.

“We’re very nervous given the rain we have had and with a lot of rain we see grass fuel,” he said.

“We are seeing a lot of fuel in the western Queensland corridor and we have not seen before.”

Police investigations into alleged arson incidents around Mareeba are continuing.

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Originally published as Cops chase arsonist after series of suspicious fires