Raxeph
February 9th, 2009, 01:42 AM
(Taken from The Daily Telegraph, Monday, February 9, 2009)
Arsonists yesterday re-lit blazes barely fought into submission by overstretched fire crews. As Victorian Premier (State Governor) John Brumby yesterday broke down in tears over the horrifying events, South Australian Premier Mike Rann described the arsonists as "terrorists". NSW Premier Nathan Rees agreed, saying anyone caught lighting fires in NSW would be severely dealt with. "This is not fun, this is not something clever," he said. "This is something that can kill people."
One suspected arsonist was stopped by a witness who made a citizen's arrest after noticing the man acting suspiciously at Mount Penang Parklands, on the Central Coast. The 31 year old Killarney Vale man, who was seen emerging from a reserve at Somersby which was ignited a short time later, was stopped on Saturday. Yesterday he was charged with a range of offenses and ordered to face Gosford Local Court.
The Victorian Country Fire Authority had already confirmed many of the fires that ripped through the state on the weekend were deliberately lit. "These people are terrorists within our nation, they are the enemy within and we have to be increasingly vigilant about them," Mr Rann said. Police warned any of those caught setting the fires could be charged with murder, as the death toll yesterday grew at a sickening rate.
CFA deputy chief Steve Warrington said firefighters battling a blaze at Churchill were being hampered by at least one firebug, re-igniting areas after fire crews had been through to extinguish the fire. "We know we do have someone who is lighting fires in this community. While we often think it's spotting, we also know there are people lighting fires deliberately," he said.
Victoria Police Deputy Chief Commissioner Kieran Walshe would not say which fires police believed had been the result of arson, but a police spokeswoman said anyone found to have lit the fires would likely be charges with murder or manslaughter. "They can be charged with murder, it depends on the evidence that comes to hand," she said.
-Michelle CazzulinoIt serves them right if they're charged with murder. Can they honestly say they didn't know what the consequences would be? Fire destroys. And to go around relighting fires after they've been put out? Mongrels. :grrrrr:
Arsonists yesterday re-lit blazes barely fought into submission by overstretched fire crews. As Victorian Premier (State Governor) John Brumby yesterday broke down in tears over the horrifying events, South Australian Premier Mike Rann described the arsonists as "terrorists". NSW Premier Nathan Rees agreed, saying anyone caught lighting fires in NSW would be severely dealt with. "This is not fun, this is not something clever," he said. "This is something that can kill people."
One suspected arsonist was stopped by a witness who made a citizen's arrest after noticing the man acting suspiciously at Mount Penang Parklands, on the Central Coast. The 31 year old Killarney Vale man, who was seen emerging from a reserve at Somersby which was ignited a short time later, was stopped on Saturday. Yesterday he was charged with a range of offenses and ordered to face Gosford Local Court.
The Victorian Country Fire Authority had already confirmed many of the fires that ripped through the state on the weekend were deliberately lit. "These people are terrorists within our nation, they are the enemy within and we have to be increasingly vigilant about them," Mr Rann said. Police warned any of those caught setting the fires could be charged with murder, as the death toll yesterday grew at a sickening rate.
CFA deputy chief Steve Warrington said firefighters battling a blaze at Churchill were being hampered by at least one firebug, re-igniting areas after fire crews had been through to extinguish the fire. "We know we do have someone who is lighting fires in this community. While we often think it's spotting, we also know there are people lighting fires deliberately," he said.
Victoria Police Deputy Chief Commissioner Kieran Walshe would not say which fires police believed had been the result of arson, but a police spokeswoman said anyone found to have lit the fires would likely be charges with murder or manslaughter. "They can be charged with murder, it depends on the evidence that comes to hand," she said.
-Michelle CazzulinoIt serves them right if they're charged with murder. Can they honestly say they didn't know what the consequences would be? Fire destroys. And to go around relighting fires after they've been put out? Mongrels. :grrrrr: