Mangana fire was deliberately lit, police say, as the blaze continues to threaten the Fingal Valley

A bushfire threatening property on the state’s East Coast was deliberately lit, police have claimed as they launch a full investigation into the blaze.

POLICE are on the hunt for firebugs, revealing that one of the fires threatening the northern town of Fingal was deliberately lit.

Northern District Commander Brett Smith said firefighters attending the bushfire at Mangana had reason to believe that blaze was deliberately lit and a full police investigation had been started.

“We believe there are a number of people involved and we are appealing to the community of the Fingal Valley to come forward,” he said.

“Some people in that community will know information that will connect suspects with the lighting of fires.”

At 2pm Tasmania Fire Service issued an emergency warning to residents near the blaze burning at Mathinna Rd, Fingal, urging residents north of Fingal to evacuate to Mathinna.

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Commander Smith said there is an ongoing investigations into several deliberately lit fires in the Fingal Valley region over the past two years and there had been several incidents in the past few months alone.

He said there a number of persons of interest in the investigation and suspects were believed to be Fingal Valley residents.

He said there were six detectives in the area conducting investigations yesterday and more today.

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The fire at Mangana was first reported at 3.30pm on Monday during a period of severe fire danger and was quickly escalated to emergency level, leading to most of the township’s residents being evacuated.

The Fingal fire, comprising three separate blazes, has now burned more than 5000ha and residents have still not been able to return to their homes.

“Late yesterday afternoon I addressed a community forum there and expressed my concerns that we believe there are a number of people lighting fires,” Commander Smith said.

“Residents at that meeting yesterday were concerned and understandably outraged at what we found.”

He urged anyone with information or who had witnessed any suspicious activity to contact Tasmania Police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

“We are confident that not only will someone in the community know who the offenders are, but they will have seen things or heard things that will connect that person or persons to starting the fire.

“It is irresponsible behaviour that puts lives at risk and we will do everything we can to bring these people to justice.”

Police are also investigating three small fires that were believed to have been deliberately lit near Dilston on the East Tamar three days ago.