By Angus Delaney
Police are investigating three grass fires believed to be caused by illegal fireworks, following reports of hundreds of firework-related incidents overnight, as well as two teen stabbings on the coast.
More than 280 firework-related incidents were reported on Tuesday, prompting police to warn revellers against lighting illegal fireworks. It comes a week after a 19-year-old was killed by a firework and a 30-year-old woman suffered serious upper body injuries in separate incidents on Christmas Day.
On Tuesday, emergency services responded to a blaze in Glenroy, in the city’s north, about 4.30pm, where they located remnants of fireworks. At 9pm, another grass fire broke out in a paddock in Kurunjang, in Melbourne’s west, with witnesses telling police that four people had set off fireworks.
About an hour later, residents in Greenvale, in Melbourne’s north, reportedly heard fireworks before another grass fire was found there.
No injuries were sustained, but Victoria Police said fireworks carry the risk of serious injury or death and can create bushfires or damage property.
CFA chief officer Jason Heffernan said there had been 50 incidents regarding the unauthorised use of fireworks, flares, and similar items in Victoria in the last financial year. More than half resulted in fires.
A paddock fire in Kurunjang. On social media, a resident said was started by an illegal firework.
“With the fire activity we’ve already seen across the state, it’s more important than ever for people to remain vigilant and avoid behaviours that could spark fires,” said Heffernan in a statement.
According to Monash University’s Victorian Injury Surveillance Unit, 244 people presented at the state’s hospital emergency departments with fireworks-related injuries in the ten years up to June 2023.
Police also reported two teen stabbings on the Mornington Peninsula. In Blairgowrie, two 16-year-old boys were arrested for allegedly stabbing another male, who was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and is in a stable condition.
In Sorrento, police are probing after a man was stabbed when a fight broke out between a group of youths at 2am Wednesday morning. The 19-year-old victim was taken to hospital and is in a stable condition.
People sleep on St Kilda beach on New Year’s morning as council workers prepare to clean up.Credit: Wayne Taylor
Hundreds of thousands of Victorians gathered to enjoy the firework displays across Melbourne in St Kilda, the Mornington Peninsula, Surf Coast and Philip Island. According to Victoria Police, 52 assault-related incidents were recorded across the state.
However, paramedics joined Victoria Police in saying that the behaviour of the public last night was largely safe. In the CBD and Docklands, paramedics were called to 60 emergency cases between 8pm and 3am and seven people were transported to the hospital.
Ambulance Victoria metropolitan regional director Michael Georgiou said the busiest time was between midnight and 2am, with paramedics responding to trips, assaults and alcohol and drug-related cases.
“The vast majority of people enjoyed themselves and looked after themselves and one another,” Georgiou said.
Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.