Since Saturday 13 December 2014 the Tasmanian Fire Service have responded to four (4) deliberately lit bushfires at Cleveland (Northern Midlands). The fires have disrupted traffic on the Midlands Highway at times and caused damage to Crown bushland.

On Monday 15 December 2014 police from Longford attended a further report of a deliberately lit bushfire at Cleveland. As a result of police investigations a 32 year old Longford man has been charged with 5 counts of unlawfully setting fire to vegetation. The man has been bailed to appear at the Launceston Court of Petty Sessions at 9.30am on 4 February 2015.

Tasmania Police wish to thank the local community for their cooperation which led to the early detection and arrest of this person.