Reckless fire-starters now face 15 years’ jail
RECKLESS R fire-starters will be hit with the full force of the law la as police launch a new assault as against unintentional firebugs fir on the eve of a long and an dangerous bushfire season.
Operation Safeguard will be la launched today, as Victoria Po Police take a zero-tolerance ap approach toward accidental fire-starters, who now cause more fires than arsonists.
Under the new plan officers will be deployed across the state during total fire ban days, to be highly visible and targeting firebugs as well as members of the public involved in high-risk behaviour.
Police will be on the look out for people lighting campfires, burning in farms, tradies using tools such as angle grinders, or vehicles and machinery that pose an unacceptable risk.
Under Victorian law people found guilty of recklessly or intentionally causing a bushfire face the same maximum penalty of up to 15 years in jail.
Lighting a fire on a total fire ban day attracts a $37,000 fine and two years jail.
The plan replaces Operation Firesetter and comes as the Country Fire Authority has issued a total fire ban in the Mallee today, as temperatures soar across the state.
Assistant Commissioner Michael Grainger said in recent years fires started from people being reckless had caused more damage than blazes lit by arsonists, prompting the new “hard-line approach”.
“The reality is the majority of fires are caused through reckless actions like these,” Mr Grainger said.
“This careless behaviour has the same potential consequences as that caused by arson, easily leading to the destruction of life and property.”
In the year ending June 2019, the Crime Statistics Agency data recorded 27 offences for recklessly causing a bushfire and 18 for fires that were intentionally lit.
Reckless actions included:
A HEAVY vehicle that had charcoal and red embers blowing out of the exhaust gate; VEHICLES being driven with flat tyres during days of elevated fire danger rating; PEOPLE using tools such as angle grinders on high fire danger rating days; and, CAMPFIRES left unattended.