In the month of November 2012 there has been a noticeable increase in the number of deliberately lit scrub fires and also the number of persons apprehended for this crime.  These fires have predominantly been in the Derwent Valley, Bridgewater, New Norfolk and Rokeby areas.

Bellerive Criminal Investigation Branch have recently apprehended the following persons with deliberately lighting scrub fires:

9 November 2012 apprehended for scrub fires in the Derwent Valley:
A 19 year old male with seven counts of unlawfully set fire to vegetation;
An 11 and a 12 year old boy from New Norfolk with scrub fires.

13 November 2012 for a scrub fire at Bridgewater:
Two 13 year old girls and two 12 year old girls, all of Bridgewater.

19 November 2012 for a scrub fire at Bridgewater:
Two 13 year old boys from Bridgewater.

The key three messages are:

(1) Starting scrub fires is a Criminal Act and is treated extremely seriously due to the potential damage to property and loss of life that can be caused;
(2) If a deliberately lit scrub fire destroys property or injures people or causes death, the person who started the fire is criminally responsible for not only the fire but the damage to property and injure/death to persons.
(3) Please assist emergency services:

a. For those supervising youth, please know where they are, particularly at night time and please take responsibility to ensure they are not involved in lighting scrub fires;

b. Please report any information in relation to persons starting scrub fires to:
i. If you suspect someone is starting a scrub fire and there is an immediate threat of danger, call 000
ii. If you have information about a past incident call 131444
iii. Information can be given anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, a reward may be payable

Media and Communications
(03) 6230 2296