On 25 December 2016 Devonport CIB charged a 53 year old man from Ulverstone with two counts of Arson.  The matters relate to two separate fires at an unoccupied private residence at 36 Jermyn Street, Ulverstone.

At 3:10am on 24 December police and Tasmania Fire Service attended a structure fire at the residence.  When units arrived a back room was well alight with the fire affecting two wall and the roof space.  The fire was quickly contained and caused an estimated $8,000 damage.

Around midnight on 24 December police and Tasmania Fire Service attended to the report of another structure fire at the same residence.  This time the fire involved another section of the residence and caused damage to the walls and roof.  Damage on this occasion was estimated at approximately $10,000.

Uniform police located and spoke to the 53 year old man who had been seen in the area just prior to the fire and he was arrested and then interviewed by CIB at the Devonport Police Station.  As a result he was charged with two counts of arson and bailed to appear in the Devonport Magistrates Court in February 2017.

Police will allege that the residence was targeted as result of a dispute between the two parties and would like to re-assure the community that this was not a random incident.