Evidence suggests Bundaberg fires were lit on purpose

Bundaberg emergency services have issued a callout to the community to bring forward evidence after authorities revealed two dangerous fires this week may have been deliberately lit.

Bundaberg emergency services have come together to call on community evidence after investigations revealed two recent fires may have been deliberately lit.

On Monday, September 11, fire and police services were stretched thin as they battled two dangerous fires.

At both Coonarr and Norville, blazes had begun to spread, the flames fed by recent dry conditions and strong winds.

Thankfully, emergency services were able to get the fires under control without any injuries or deaths, however roughly 30 homes and businesses were evacuated.

As fire crews remain on the scene to do periodic checks, Patrol Inspector Grant Marcus and Station Office and Fire Investigator Trevor Farraway said evidence suggested the fires were no accident.

Scenes from the large fire which took hold of bushland in the Bundaberg suburb of Norville.

“There are suggestions or indications those fires may have been deliberately lit,” Inspector Marcus said.

“What we do know is that there were roughly five different fires started in that Coonar area around the same time, which is not something you would normally see.”

The timing and location of multiple fire ignition points across the region were the key indication the blazes had been started intentionally.

Mr Marcus called on the community to come forward with any footage or sightings of people they believe were acting suspiciously around the time and location the blazes were lit.

Scenes from the large fire which took hold of bushland in the Bundaberg suburb of Norville.

“It’s disappointing that there have been several fires deliberately lit in our response area,” Mr Farraway said.

“It’s a grave concern to us because these fires do have a large impact on people's lives, property and the environment.”

Mr Farraway also called on the community to be mindful as the fire season had only just begun.

“It takes very little initiation energy to light these materials and start a grass fire, given the wind conditions which can turn a small fire into a large fire very quickly.”

Originally published as Evidence suggests Bundaberg fires were lit on purpose