It is deeply concerning that at the very same time we are announcing the expansion of another 100 houses to the residential growth area in Ballarat’s west that we are reporting yet another suspicious fire in the area.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
While police have not yet confirmed the cause of this week’s fire west of Lucas, the worrying things for residents is that this is far more than a coincidence. Not only does this follow on from a fire on a similarly high risk fire day last week in the same area but numerous fires in the same Cuthberts Road area over the last few seasons some that came perilously close to houses.
If anybody needs reminding of the gravity of this issue it is worth noting that summer has not even begun and nationally we already have six deaths from fire incidents in Western and South Australia.
Given the fire season is now expanding, as much as by two months according to recent report by the Climate Council and breaking temperature records is now almost old news it happens so frequently, it would be safe to say , arson is a more dangerous and culpable crime than ever before.
There are those who would argue that firebugs simply want the attention and our media coverage is simply feeding their perverted thrill in “creating events” .But we would counter this is a serious social problem that needs coverage, solutions and action. The media cannot simply ignore it any more than the CFA could say they won’t respond as the rush of fire trucks and firefighting activity is also part of the thrill arsonists get.
Two key lessons can’t be reiterated enough;
Residents might be in comfortable suburban areas but they are in fact part of the urban bush interface which the CFA repeatedly warns is at significant risk in major fires. Even runaway grass fires can burn houses and take lives. Residents should sign up to the appropriate CFA alerts and think carefully about the preventative and defensive actions they wish to take.
The other - and this is a plea from Victoria Police, the CFA and every resident who is troubled by this deranged behaviour; for everyone to remain vigilant. Vigilant of the very first signs of fire behaviour and anything untoward people may see. The smallest thing, an unusual car or person may give the police another piece in their jigsaw of evidence. Just as with missing people, the community must be the eyes of the police.
