Careless Victorians who recklessly cause fires to be treated like arsonists
Victorians who unintentionally start fires will cop the full force of the law and police warn their actions will be treated in the same way as that of arsonists as a dangerous bushfire season looms.
VIC News
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Reckless firestarters will be hit with the full force of the law as police launch a new assault against unintentional firebugs on the eve of a long and dangerous bushfire season.
Operation Safeguard will be launched on Wednesday, as Victoria Police take a zero-tolerance approach toward accidental firestarters, who now cause more fires than arsonists.
Under the new plan officers will be deployed across the state during total fire ban days, to be highly visible and targeting firebugs as well as members of the public involved in high-risk behaviour.
Police will be on the lookout for people lighting campfires, burning on farms, tradies using tools, such as angle grinders, or vehicles and machinery that pose an unacceptable risk.
People found guilty of recklessly or intentionally causing a bushfire face the same maximum penalty of up to 15 years in jail.
Lighting a fire on a total fire ban day attracts a $37,000 fine and two years’ jail.
The plan replaces Operation Firesetter and comes as the Country Fire Authority issued a total fire ban in the Mallee today, as temperatures soar across the state.
Assistant Commissioner Michael Grainger said in recent years fires started from people being reckless had caused more damage than blazes lit by arsonists, prompting the new “hard-line approach”.
“It might seem like leaving a campfire unattended or operating machinery on a total fire ban day is not a huge issue,” Mr Grainger said
“The reality is the majority of fires are caused through reckless actions like these.”
In the year ending June 2019, the Crime Statistics Agency data recorded 27 offences for recklessly causing a bushfire and 18 for fire that were intentionally lit.
Cases of reckless behaviour witnessed by Victoria Police last year included:
A HEAVY vehicle which had charcoal and red embers blowing out of the exhaust gate;
VEHICLES being driven with flat tyres during days of elevated fire danger rating;
PEOPLE using tools such as angle grinders on high fire danger rating days; and
CAMPFIRES left unattended.
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Victoria is facing a long and dangerous season this summer with Gippsland considered a high threat.
In response Victoria has boosted its air fleet to 50, the highest on record.
The state government has also released a highly emotive advertising campaign including distressing footage of families affected by bushfires.