Teen arrested over suspicious fires at Jells Park

Wheelers Hill’s popular Jells Park has been closed after a series of “deliberately lit” fires ripped through the popular lakeside reserve. Police arrested a teen at the park in relation to the suspicious fires.

MFB, Vic Police and Forestry Victoria at a grass fire in Jells Park, Wheeler's Hill. Picture: Sarah Matray

A teenager is expected to be charged on summons after a series of suspicious fires that ripped through a popular Melbourne park during the hottest day in months.

A 19-year-old Mulgrave man was yesterday questioned by police over large grass and scrub fires that quickly spread throughout Jells Park in Wheelers Hill during Thursday’s hot and windy conditions.

He was released last night and is expected to be charged on summons.

The teen was chased down and arrested by police in the park after being spotted by a firefighter.

Eight fires were located within the park, including around the lake, after multiple triple-0 calls were made after 12.30pm, as temperatures soared above 29C.

It was the hottest day since April.

Police suspect an accelerant was used to deliberately light the fires.

Fire trucks at a grass fire in Jells Park, Wheeler's Hill. Picture: Sarah Matray

A chopper flys over head with a water bucket. Picture: Sarah Matray

It took 35 firefighters from the CFA and MFB and an aircraft almost two hours to tackle the fires, which forced the evacuation of the park.

The largest fire grew to a size of 500 square metres.

Firefighters used water from the lake to extinguish the flames.

Acting Assistant Chief Fire Officer Paul Foster said strong winds made it “quite difficult” to extinguish the fire.

Firefighting efforts underway in Jells Park. @theheraldsun pic.twitter.com/UoOPYis4ZL

— Tamsin Rose (@tamsinroses) October 3, 2019

“It was very tough terrain. The ground itself was extremely boggy and marshy,” he said.

“We did use aircraft which is very unusual for this time of year.”

As police probe whether a fire bug was behind Thursday’s early fire outbreak, they have refused to make public the number of people on a statewide arsonist watch list.

The blaze is under control. Picture: Sarah Matray

Early forecasts suggest Victoria is set to face another summer of bushfires, with hot temperatures and lower than average rainfalls expected in the coming months.

A watch list of potential fire starters is complied and monitored each year, but is being kept secret by authorities who say reckless fires are a greater safety risk than firebugs.

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There were 300 people on a watch list in 2015.

A total of 27 offences for recklessly causing a bushfire were recorded by police in the year to June.

The cause of the blaze is at this stage unknown and the investigation continues.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 00 or file a confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au

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