Tasmania breaking news: 40-year-old New Town man charged with murder after Glenorchy fatal fire
A middle-aged man has been charged with murder and will appear in court in relation to a northern suburbs house fire in which one person died. LATEST UPDATE.
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Man charged with murder after fatal house fire
Updated January 7, 10am: A middle-aged man has been charged with murder and will appear in court in relation to a northern suburb’s house fire in which one person died.
The 40-year-old man was taken into custody on Friday afternoon, after emergency services that morning extinguished a house fire on Sanders St, Glenorchy at about 7am.
A short time after emergency services attended the scene, a body was found inside the home.
Tasmania Police on Sunday evening announced that the 40-year-old man, from New Town, had been formally charged with murder.
The man is also facing charges of arson, motor vehicle stealing and unlawfully setting fire to property.
He has been remanded in custody and will appear in Hobart Magistrates Court on Monday.
Detective Acting Inspector Nick Bowden of Glenorchy CIB said police were still appealing from members of the public for information or CCTV footage of those living between Park St in North Hobart and Risdon Rd at New Town.
“We would like to thank those members of the public who have already come forward and responded to our appeal for assistance,” he said.
“Information and co-operation from the community is often invaluable in these types of complex investigations.”
Call for information after body found in burning home
Updated January 6, 10am
Police are calling for information after a body was found inside a Glenorchy home which went up in flames on Friday.
The fire broke out at the Sanders St home before 7am and authorities later located the body inside.
The identity of the body has not yet been released.
A 40 year old man was taken into custody on Friday. Meanwhile police have linked the fire to a second blaze in North Hobart: A vehicle fire on Park Street.
As police continue to investigate what happened, they are appealing for information from members of the public, who might have been residing in or travelling through the North Hobart and New Town between 7am and 8am on Friday.
“If you witnessed or have footage of a suspicious person on foot in the area at the time, police would like to hear from you,” a Tasmania Police spokesperson said.
“Police are also interested in information about a Blue Mazda 6 sedan - registration L78BI – in the area of Park Street about 7am, or travelling between Glenorchy and North Hobart at that time.”
40-year-old man taken into custody after fatal house fire
Updated January 5, 4.45pm: A detective says it’s “too early” in the investigation to confirm whether the fire was deliberately lit.
This comes after a 40-year-old man was taken into custody on Friday afternoon in relation to the Glenorchy house fire where investigators found a dead body.
Police say the deceased has not been identified, even their sex is not yet known.
Detective Acting Inspector Nick Bowden said the identification process could take several days.
“The deceased person inside that residence hasn’t been identified and that will take some time,” he said.
“Shortly after we received information about the house being on fire, another report was received of a vehicle fire in North Hobart.
“Our enquiries have established that the vehicle is linked to the Sanders St address.
“We’d certainly like to hear from anyone that may have observed a blue Mazda travelling between Glenorchy and North Hobart between the times of 6.45am and about 17.10am.
“If any motorists have been on the road travelling during those times, who might have seen that vehicle or might have dashcam footage, they could check that footage – and if that reveals anything we’d certainly like to hear from you.”
It was not confirmed who owned the blue Mazda, or whether the arrested man and the deceased were known to each other.
Camera drones could also be seen flying above the scorched Glenorchy property, a measure Mr Bowden said was to gain a “clearer picture of the surroundings” and help to track down the morning’s fateful events.
Earlier, 3.48pm: Tasmania Police have taken a 40-year-old man into custody and say he is assisting officers with their enquiries in relation to a fatal house fire at Glenorchy this morning.
Police say the man was taken into custody about 1.45pm.
Officers report as part of the investigation, a second crime scene was declared in Park Street, North Hobart after a Blue Mazda was found on fire.
Police believe both fires are linked.
This comes after emergency services were called to the scene in Sanders St, Glenorchy on Friday morning because a home was fully alight.
Investigators found a body of a person located inside the home.
Anyone with information about a Blue Mazda 6 sedan – registration L78BI – in the area of Park St, North Hobart about 7am this morning, or dashcam footage of the car travelling between Glenorchy and North Hobart should contact police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers.
Earlier, 12pm: Family and friends embraced one another on the front lawn of the site of the blaze, several still wearing dressing gowns and pyjamas as they took in the tragic scene.
Surrounded by detectives, SES volunteers and police officers, about five family members waited under the shade of a tree next door for updates.
Various family and friends arrived intermittently at the scene to inquire about the incident, but nobody further was allowed past the police to the scorched house.
Emergency workers could be seen constructing a temporary screen along the fence of the property, using wooden plinths to shield the crime scene from the eyes of the public and media.
Family could be heard lamenting the loss of life and surrounding circumstances.
Meanwhile, police say investigators are working to identify body of person found in a Glenorchy home on Friday morning.
Detective Acting Inspector Nick Bowden said police, including forensic services and fire scene investigators, remained at the Sanders St property.
“The investigation is still in the very early stages,” Detective Acting Inspector Bowden said.
“Formal identification of the deceased person will take some time to determine.
“This is a tragic outcome, and our thoughts are with those affected.”
Emergency services were alerted to the home fully alight shortly before 7am.
Police have declared a crime scene.
Earlier 9.13am: A body of a person has been found inside a house that caught alight at Sanders St, Glenorchy on Friday morning.
A resident on the street alerted emergency services to the house being fully alight shortly before 7am.
Fire investigators and detectives are investigating the fire as suspicious.
They remain at the property conducting a detailed examination, and a crime scene has been declared.
Initial, 8.30am: Emergency services were called out to a house fire in Sanders St, Glenorchy on Friday morning.
Tasmania Fire Service was alerted to the incident at 6.53am and multiple crews responded.
A spokesperson say fire investigators were on the scene.
They reported the blaze was close to fully extinguished at about 8.30am.
Police are also on the scene.
More to come.
Emergency services continue chemical spill clean up on highway
January 4, 3.49pm: Tasmania Fire Service crews and other response agencies are continuing the clean up of Ferric chloride solution on the Bass Highway, Latrobe.
The road remains closed nearly 12 hours after the incident was first reported on Thursday morning.
The Bass Highway near York St junction Latrobe remains closed.
Motorists have been asked to be mindful of the resulting increased traffic in other areas, including the Latrobe round about.
“Please slow down, obey traffic rules and take care,” police say.
The hazardous chemicals spilt on the road when a truck rolled over and cracked a drum holding the substance.
A TasAlert remains present for those in the area to remain indoors, with police previously confirming only one resident was in the immediate vicinity.
Two weeks, 1000 offences: Police crack down on holiday road trouble
January 4, 3pm: It was a busy festive period for police with more than 1000 offences on Tasmanian roads detected in just under a fortnight.
Operation Safe Arrival, a statewide traffic enforcement operation, ran from December 22, 2023.
Close to 17,000 random drug and alcohol tests were undertaken during that period, and 754 infringement notices were issued for speeding offences.
During that time, three people lost their lives on Tasmanian roads, and eight people were injured.
Acting Assistant Commissioner Jason Elmer warned motorists to watch their speed.
“If you aren’t watching your speed, police will be,” Acting Assistant Commissioner Elmer said.
“When you’re distracted from the road, police won’t be.
“The choices you make when you’re behind the wheel or on a motorbike can be a matter of life or death.”
He urged drivers to “pay attention, follow the rules” and help prevent more road deaths.
Operation Safe Arrival statewide traffic enforcement activities:
> Random drug and alcohol tests – 16,920
> Motorists charged with drink driving offences – 73
> Motorists who returned positive oral fluid drug tests – 93
> Infringement notices issued for speeding offences – 754
> Infringement notices issued for inattentive driving – 14
> Infringement notices issued for mobile phone use – 35
> Infringement notices issued for seat belt offences – 30
> Infringement notices issued for disqualified and/or unlicenced driving – 41
Hazardous substance spilt on Tasmanian highway revealed
Update January 4, 11.46am: Ferric chloride solution was the substance spilt onto the Bass Highway at Latrobe at about 4.30am on Thursday morning.
A police spokesperson confirmed the substance spilt on the road after the truck carrying it rolled over and cracked a drum holding the solution.
Emergency services continue to work to remove the hazardous material.
The chemical product is reportedly contained and there is no risk of exposure to the general public.
An alert told residents in the immediate area to stay indoors and police say only one resident was affected by the alert.
The section of the highway impacted set to remain closed to the public for some time.
Earlier, 9.26am: Authorities say the chemical product from a truck crash on the Bass Highway at Latrobe has been contained.
TasAlert say there is no risk of exposure to the general public.
People inside the area between Speedway Drive and Oppenheims Road, Latrobe have been asked to remain indoors.
Anyone outside the incident area is safe to return to normal business on the latest advice.
Initial, 8.08am: A truck crash spilling chemicals on the Bass Highway at Latrobe has triggered a warning to those in the vicinity.
TasAlert issued advice for those outside Ampol Wattle Hill Bass Highway, Latrobe to avoid the area.
In the hazardous material advice, they say conditions are being monitored by Tasmania Fire Service.
“Exposure to this material may present a danger,” TasAlert said.
“There is no risk of exposure to the general public at this time.”
The advice to those in the immediate area between Speedway Drive and Oppenheims Road is to stay indoors, close all doors, windows and vents, and to turn air conditioners to recirculate or off.
Tasmania Police reported a truck crash at about 4.30am on Thursday morning.
They said the truck was transporting chemicals.
Having also asked the public to avoid the area, officers have established a traffic management plan on the highway.
The road is closed from Moriarty Rd and Oppenheims Rd. Traffic is being detoured via Frankford Rd.
Motorists can use Bonneys Lane to re-access the Bass Highway.
Warning to drive cautiously after oil spill cleared on busy road
Updated January 4, 11.04: Excess gravel is in place on Bathurst St, Launceston after an earlier oil spill has been cleared up.
Police advice motorists to use caution when travelling through the area.
Earlier 10.12am: Another spill incident has closed down a section of a busy road.
An oil spill on Bathurst St, Launceston has closed the left lane between Howick and Balfour Sts.
Officers report the spill starts near Twining St and extends approximately 150m along Bathurst St.
Motorists have been asked to avoid the area if possible and drive with caution.
This comes as earlier in the day, a chemical spill triggered advice to stay indoors and close windows for those in the vicinity of the Ampol Wattle Hill Bass Highway, Latrobe.
Person taken into custody in isolated incident
January 4, 8.28: Police have reopened a Launceston street after taking a person into custody.
Wellington Street at South Launceston had been closed following an isolated incident at a private residence on Thursday morning.
Police say the sole occupant of the residence was safely taken into custody at the scene.
Officers reported nobody was physically injured during the incident.
Residence woke to increased police presence in the area as officers had advised there was no threat to the wider community.
A traffic diversion had been in place, but is now removed.
Single vehicle crash diverts traffic on Bass Highway
January 3, 12.47pm: The road has been cleared and is now open to traffic.
No serious injuries were reported.
January 3, 11.53am: Emergency services are on the scene of a single vehicle crash on the Bass Highway at Sassafras, near Felmingham Road.
Traffic is being diverted away from the incident down Long Hill Road to Native Plains Road.
Officers have asked motorists to avoid the area if possible, and those who are diverted south from Keens Road must slow down to allow for merging into one lane.
Police say details of injuries are not yet known.
Reports two people smashed 40+ windows
January 3, 10.52: Dozens of windows have been smashed, causing significant damage to a Burnie business overnight.
Burnie police is calling for information after reports two people were breaking office windows at a commercial property.
Officers were called to Wilson St at about 11.20pm on Tuesday.
They say about 40 to 45 windows had been broken causing an estimated $45,000 worth of damage.
Forensic officers attended the scene, and the matter is now being investigated by Western CIB.
Anyone with information is being encouraged to contact Burnie Police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers
Father and teenage son kayakers located by drones in long rescue
January 3, 8.08am: A kayaking father and his teenage son have returned safe uninjured after a drawn out rescue spanning hours on the South Esk River.
Police were alerted to the pair’s trouble by a concerned family member about 9pm on Tuesday after the father and son didn’t arrive at their destination.
They had been kayaking from Longford to Hadspen and had not been seen since 3.15pm.
Police used drone capability, activating Polair, to conduct an air search and also a ground search along with SES volunteers.
The drone pilot located the missing kayakers on a small island in the river near Mill Dam around 1.20am.
An immediate rescue was delayed due to heavy tree coverage stopping Polair from landing in the area.
Surf lifesaving vessels were redeployed, and the father and son were safely rescued about 4.30am.
Inspector Michael Johnston praised the result, saying the pair were inexperienced kayakers and had underestimated the conditions of the river.
“Both were wearing life jackets, however neither had taken a mobile phone, and were unable to contact emergency services when they encountered difficulties,” Inspector Johnston said.
“It was the pair’s first time attempting the route, and they had been tipped from their kayaks multiple times before they no longer felt safe continuing their trip.”
He said the fast flowing river with heavy tree coverage proved challenging for rescue efforts.
“While this was the best result we could have hoped for, it could have easily ended in tragedy,” he said.
Inspector Johnston remained anyone going onto the water in any vessel to be prepared and plan ahead, including check the weather forecast and ensuring the correct safety equipment is on-board.
Body of 72-year-old man found in the water in Tasmania’s North
January 2, 9.04pm: Police have recovered the body of a 72-year-old man at Greens Beach on Tuesday evening.
Police and emergency services were called to the scene about 6pm after a body was located in the water.
Officers reported investigations had determined there were no suspicious circumstances.
A report will be prepared for the Coroner.
Crash blocks busy Hobart thoroughfare
January 2, 4.45pm: Tasmania Police and emergency services personnel are on the scene of a vehicle crash in a blue-chip Hobart suburb.
The single-vehicle crash, which happened on Regent St at Sandy Bay, has caused the road to be blocked between York and View Sts.
Police in a statement asked motorists and people to avoid the area.
More to come.
Man charged for deliberately lighting fires in bushland area
January 2, 2024: A 39-year-old man allegedly lit multiple vegetation fires in bushland at Tolmans Hill on New Year’s Day.
Officers allege the man lit a number of blazes near the Southern Outlet and Old Proctors Road shortly before 5.30pm.
“The fires were contained by Tasmania Fire Service, with no damage to property reported,” a Tasmania Police spokesperson said.
Police say the suspect was found near Ridgeway Reservoir a short time after the incident and was taken into custody.
Police have charged the man with unlawfully setting fire to property, destroying property and drink driving.
He is set to appear in the Hobart Magistrate Court on Tuesday morning.
Truck rollover blocks road near timber mill
Update 11.38am: Old Bell Bay Road, Bell Bay has been cleared and is now open to traffic.
No serious injuries were reported.
January 2, 2024, initial: Emergency services have been called out to a truck rollover near 331 Old Bell Bay Road, Bell Bay.
Officers report there have been no serious injuries.
However, Old Bell Bay Road is completely blocked in both directions in the vicinity of the timber mill.
Police have asked motorists to avoid the area while it’s being cleared and expect the road will remain closed for several hours.
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