Bushfires NT contains ‘suspiciously lit’ near Elizabeth River, Stuart Hwy

Firefighters saved a structure from being burned to the ground after a ‘suspiciously lit’ fire spread from river to road.

It took four aircraft, two helicopters, and a front end loader to tame a “suspiciously lit” fire that burned from river to road.

A Bushfires NT spokesman said his crew – alongside the NT Fire and Rescue Service and Lambells Lagoon and Elizabeth Valley Volunteer Brigades – responded to the fire on Monday.

The spokesman said the fire started near the Elizabeth River, in an area where there were “no known potential sources of ignition such as power tools, welders, electrical sources”.

He said it was considered suspicious because several people were seen in the area at the time of the fire.

“Nobody has been charged,” he said.

“The details of those persons and vehicles have been passed on to Police.”

Firefighters saved a structure from being barbecued after a ‘suspiciously lit’ blaze spread from the Elizabeth River to the Stuart Hwy.

The spokesman said no injuries were reported as a result of the fire.

He said a number of “spot overs” threatened a property on the western side of the Stuart Hwy.

The spokesman said the joint efforts from Bushfires NT and the NT Fire and Rescue Service prevented a shed full of machinery and paddocks with cattle in them from being razed.

“Crews identified the spot overs and extinguished them with the assistance of aerial assets,” he said.

Firefighters saved a structure from being barbecued after a ‘suspiciously lit’ blaze spread from the Elizabeth River to the Stuart Hwy. Picture: Sierra Haigh

Despite the successful management of the fire, the spokesman was concerned by the behaviour of motorists in the area while his teams were on site.

“If you see smoke, please slow down,” he said.

“Our crews had a number of near misses from motorists who continued to drive at speed through the smoke on the highway.”