VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER, 19, CHARGED WITH DELIBERATELY LIGHTING NINE FIRES IN PERTH HILLS

 AUSTRALIA – A 19-year-old volunteer firefighter has been accused of deliberately lighting multiple blazes, including one that sparked a major emergency on Boxing Day.

Jude Craig Wright has appeared in court charged with deliberately lighting nine fires between December 23 and January 15.

Among those blazes were the December 26 Wooroloo fire, which destroyed a house and several sheds.

That fire occurred amid an extreme heatwave, with many more homes barely saved.

The accused also allegedly lit other fires in Wooroloo, Beechina, Gidgegannup and Wundowie.

He is facing nine counts of wilfully lighting a fire likely to injure or damage, with the maximum penalty for that offence being 20 years in prison.

Police said the man responded to eight of the nine fires he is alleged to have lit in his role as a volunteer firefighter.

He was unable to attend the ninth because he was already fighting another fire he was also accused of lighting.

Police said the man was arrested yesterday by arson detectives.

Mr Wright did not apply for bail during his appearance in Perth Magistrates Court on Sunday morning.

He is due to appear in court again on Monday.

Джерело: GLOBAL FIRE MONITORING CENTER. https://gfmc.online/2022/01-2022/volunteer-firefighter-19-charged-with-d...