By Jim Mynard
POLICE plan to make life more difficult for firebugs.
They will patrol highrisk fire areas in the Dandenong Ranges and Yarra Valley using the experience gained from suspicious fire in previous years.
The patrols will be mounted by officers with extensive experience in fire patrol work, fire prevention and finding and arresting arsonists.
Fire patrol coordinator, Detective Sergeant Marty Fleming, of Lilydale CIU said activities targeted by the fire patrol would be based on detailed analysis of suspicious fires that occurred in Yarra Ranges bush locations in previous years.
“Police will be liaising strongly with the CFA and DSE in order to share intelligence and allocate resources where they’re needed most.
“During periods of high risk divisional tasking unit members, traffic management unit members and the special solo section will be deployed from their usual duties on to fire patrol work.
“These deployments, coupled with new technological applications, will further strengthen our capacity to deter arsonists,” Det Sgt Fleming said.
Inspector Peter Lardner, of Yarra Ranges Police Service Area, said police would do everything possible to prevent the scourge of deliberate fire lighting during the critical summer period.
“We are throwing everything we’ve got into this.
“History tells us that the majority of fires lit out here on high risk days are caused deliberately.
“This type of criminal behaviour is putting innocent lives at risk,” Insp Lardner said.
He said police asked people to report any person or vehicle acting suspiciously.