Arsonist hunt

By Tania Martin
POLICE are hunting a suspected serial arsonist following four fires in the Dandenong Ranges National Park last week.
Foothills residents were put on high alert after four fires broke out last Wednesday, 30 January, in Sassafras, Olinda and The Basin.
Shortly after 7pm fire crews from The Basin, Boronia, Sassafras and Olinda were called to the fires bordering the national park.
The Department of Sustainability and Environment’s fire crews were also called to the scene.
CFA operations officer Colin Brown said the fires broke out at Hansen Track and Tobruk Avenue, near The Basin, and in Ferndale Road, Sassafras and the Olinda-Basin Road, Olinda.
He said all fires started shortly after 7pm but that the local fire brigades responded quickly before the fires could get out of control.
These latest fires come after several broke out two weeks ago along Hansen Track.
It also follows a series of suspected arson attacks on the area in Sassafras in February last year.
The Mail last year reported that Sassafras residents were on high alert after a four fires in four days ripped through the national park.
These fires were also reported in the same vicinity on the corner of The Basin-Olinda Road and the Mountain Highway.
Mr Brown said last week’s fires were in the same area as the 2007 outbreaks and that police were investigating the matter.
Detective Sergeant Marty Fleming of Lilydale Criminal Investigations Unit said that all the fires were being treated as suspicious.
But he said it was too early to say if there was a link with the similar fires that broke out last February.
“We don’t know if the two incidents are linked but we are treating them as separate incidents at this stage,” he said.
“However, we are looking into the incidents to see if they are linked.”
Det Sgt Fleming said police are continuing patrols of the Dandenong Ranges National Park.
He is calling for the community to get involved and help stop firebugs by reporting any suspicious activities immediately.
Mr Brown said it was only lucky that the fires started later in the evening when the wind was light and temperatures were low.
“We were lucky that the conditions were mild because it could have been a whole lot worse,” he said.
Mr Brown said it was also lucky that the local fire brigades responded quickly.
“The biggest fire was only 20-30 metres big, and all the fires were contained within 15-20 minutes,” he said.
Mr Brown said it was disappointing that anyone could do something so destructive as deliberately light a fire.
“They don’t realise what the outcome could be,” he said.
Police are continuing their investigations and anyone who may have seen anything should contact Lilydale CIU on 9735 1684 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.