Fires across Piccaninny Plains Wildlife Reserve trigger new arson investigation

A new arson investigation has been launched after millions of hectares of land, home to threatened species, have been burned across a large section of the Far North.

ANOTHER arson investigation has been launched after millions of hectares have been burned across Cape York.

Rural Fire Service Far Northern regional manager Lawrence Laing said the ­investigation looked into Piccaninny Plains Wildlife Reserve, Wolverton Station and other surrounding stations.

But this incident is all too familiar across the Cape.

“We have had multiple fire investigations across the Cape, about eight to date.

“They’re sporadically all over the Cape and not target specific,” he said.

Fires were not uncommon in Cape York with Mr Laing saying there were many burning across the region although not all suspected arson — some were started by lightning.

“A lot of it has been in remote country. We have been working with landowners to help them assist with the fires,” he said.

What triggered the latest investigations was a landowner, he said.

“A landowner raised concerns they had been targeted and there was suspicious activity reported,” he said.

“We are encouraging ­people if they are seeing ­suspicious activities to call Crime Stoppers.”

The Australian Wildlife Conservancy is concerned about fires’ effects on wildlife.

One of the properties that they manage, Piccaninny Plains Wildlife Reserve has been affected.

Australian Wildlife Conservancy senior science communicator Joey Clarke said fires burned at a higher intensity in the late dry season and managers spent a lot of time and resources on fire suppression to limit the damage.

“It’s home to threatened species, including the palm cockatoo and red goshawk, and species unique to Cape York like the spotted cuscus,” he said.

“The sanctuary protects 165,000ha of diverse tropical ecosystems, including rainforests, savanna woodlands, wetlands and grasslands.”

Originally published as Fires across Piccaninny Plains Wildlife Reserve trigger new arson investigation