Man in court on criminal damage charges

A 38-year-old man was charged with criminal damage by fire for setting alight a Baldivis property last Tuesday.

Fire crews were called to the single storey Colreavy Ramble house about 6.45pm but were unable to save the property.

The four-bedroom, two-bathroom, brick and tile home was gutted by the blaze causing more than $500,000 worth of damage.

One person was home at the time but was not injured in the fire.

The accused appeared at Rockingham Magistrate’s Court last Thursday and was scheduled to re-appear on Tuesday.

Earlier this year theTelegraph reported Baldivis and East Rockingham had been listed as two of 2015’s top three suburbs for passenger vehicle fires, with a local emergency services chief stressing how dangerous uncontrolled blazes could be.

Figures from the Department of Fire and Emergency Services show that of 1278 incidents related to vehicles across WA in 2015, 697 were deliberate or suspicious.

South Hedland was the top suburb for vehicle fires with 25 in the 12 months, with Baldivis in close pursuit with 22.

East Rockingham is listed third on the acrimonious list with 14 blazes in 2015.