The NSW Police Force is urging the community to be vigilant and report suspicious activity as investigations continue into the cause of bushfires across the state.
Advice from the Bureau of Meteorology indicates temperatures are expected to increase tomorrow and into the weekend to above 40 degrees in some areas of NSW.
Strike Force Tronto, comprised of detectives from the Financial Crimes Squad's Arson Unit, has been working closely with individual police area commands and police districts to provide specialist assistance and advice to police on the ground.
Since August this year, legal action – which ranges from cautions through to criminal charges – has been taken against 54 people for 69 bushfire-related offences.
State Crime Commander, Assistant Commissioner Stuart Smith, said detectives use a range of proactive techniques and strategies in the lead-up to and during the bushfire danger period.
"Since the Emergency Declaration last Monday (11 November 2019), Strike Force Tronto has provided expertise to four police area commands and 12 police districts," Assistant Commissioner Smith said.
Police are using proactive strategies and techniques to target potential bushfire arson and reduce the occurrences and impacts of bushfire arson.
"Bushfires can be catastrophic, and any report of a deliberately-lit fire is treated extremely seriously," Assistant Commissioner Smith said.
"Profiles on people deemed to pose a risk in relation to potential bushfire arson are prepared each season and provided to individual police area commands and police districts.
"This process continues using additional intelligence collected throughout the danger period."
Investigations into suspicious fires are being conducted by detectives from individual police area commands and police districts, with assistance from specialist officers attached to Strike Force Tronto. The bushfires include:
- Katoomba – Blue Mountains PAC
- Moonbi – Oxley PD
- Kanohooka and Hooka Creek Road – Lake Illawarra PD
- South Turramurra – Kur-ring Gai PAC
- Loftus – Sutherland PAC
- Rothbury and Muswellbrook – Hunter Valley PD
- Inverell and Ebor – New England PD
- Awaba and Morrisett – Lake Macquarie PD
- Worrigee – South Coast PD
- Balgownie – Wollongong PD
- Glenreagh – Coffs Clarence PD
- Tallong – Hume PD
- Cowra – Chifley PD
- Congarinni and Carrai East – Mid North Coast PD
- Lane Cove – North Shore PAC
- Pioneer Park – Riverina PD
Assistant Commissioner Smith said the community has an important part to play in investigations.
"Information provided to police from members of the public can help identify and apprehend an arsonist and could help the police to prevent bushfire arson occurring," Assistant Commissioner Smith said.
"If you see someone acting suspiciously, contact police, and if you see a bushfire, members of the public should always phone Triple Zero (000)."
Penalties relating to bushfires under the NSW Crimes Act, the Rural Fires Act, and Rural Fires Regulation include:
- Damaging property with the intention of endangering life – up to 25 years imprisonment;
- Manslaughter – up to 25 years imprisonment;
- Starting a bushfire and being reckless as to its spread – up to 21 years imprisonment;
- Lighting a fire when a total fire ban is in place – up to 12 months imprisonment and/or a $5500 fine;
- Not putting out a fire that you have lit – up to 12 months imprisonment and/or a $5500 fine;
- Failing to comply with a bush fire hazard reduction notice – up to 12 months imprisonment and/or a $5500 fine;
- Light or use a tobacco product within 15metres of any stack of grain, hay corn, straw or any standing crop, dry grass or stubble field – up to a $5500 fine.
For more information on bushfires, monitor www.rfs.nsw.gov.au or call the Bush Fire Information Line on 1800 679 737.
Strike Force Tronto is the lead investigative body on suspicious or deliberately-lit bushfires which lead to death, serious injury or significant property loss.
Anyone with information that may assist Strike Force Tronto investigators is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence.
