Arson charges

By Tania Martin
A 36-YEAR-OLD Mount Evelyn man was remanded in custody last week on 46 bushfire related charges.
Hills residents had a lucky escape as fire crews rushed to dampen more than seven deliberately lit fires in Mount Evelyn.
This follows months of uncertainly for residents with a number of blazes sparking concern in the Dandenongs.
The first fire was started in South Avenue shortly after 2.30pm on Wednesday 17 February.
Subsequent blazes in Clancy Road, Gardner Parade, Johns Crescent, Fuller and Glenholme roads kept crews busy for more than an hour.
Mount Evelyn resident Clare Worsnop said it was only lucky CFA crews were able to contain the fires.
She said the fires not only endangered Mount Evelyn but also the Dandenongs.
For months Mount Evelyn has been on tenterhooks following a spate of blazes.
The arrested man was intercepted while driving above the prescribed limit and later questioned over the fires.
Lilydale CIU Detective Senior Sergeant Allan Price said the man was found near one of the fire scenes and taken into custody.
“They were only small grass fires and they were never out of control at any stage,” he said.
“We had a number of police saturate the area and subsequently we’ve now got someone assisting with inquiries.”
The man, whose name has been suppressed, appeared in an out of sessions court hearing last Wednesday night at Lilydale Police Station.
He did not apply for bail.
Police informant, Lilydale Detective Senior Constable Brigette De Chirico, opposed bail as she said the accused faced an unacceptable risk to the community.
Det Sen Const De Chirico told the bail justice that the man had admitted to being depressed at the time of the offences and had an alcohol problem.
“He said he had difficulty controlling his behaviour while under the influence,” she said.
The Mount Evelyn man has been charged with 46 fire related offences including 23 counts of deliberately lighting a bushfire and 23 counts of conduct endangering life.
He was also arrested for drink driving.
The man faces up to 10 years’ jail for each count of conduct endangering life and up two years for each fire related offence.
Police have been investigating the fires in the Mount Evelyn area since September.
Det Sen Sgt Price said the community had been a big help.
But he said police were still continuing their investigations and are calling for any witnesses to come forward.
The Mount Evelyn man has been placed in protective custody and will reappear before the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 14 May.