Police plea on arson

Kwinana police have appealed to the community to join the fight against arson, after a spike in bushfires across the area.

Department of Fire and Emergency Services district officer Peter Sutton said there had been 88 suspicious fires across Kwinana and Hope Valley since October, including one which burned 48ha of land at Sloan’s Reserve in Wellard.

Mr Sutton said authorities were doing all they could to catch arsonists — including offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to a conviction.

“We have a database which tracks fires that are suspected of being deliberately lit and the police have been heavily involved with it, but we can’t do it ourselves,” he said.

“There is no typical arsonist — most young people experiment with fire, but we know it can be a range of people of various ages.”

Mr Sutton said arson was a serious crime — one which had potentially disastrous consequences for lives and properties — and could result in life imprisonment.

He said there were already huge challenges facing firefighters because of South Coastal residential areas’ close proximity to bushland.

“Firefighters visit schools once a year — usually Year 3 classes — to teach them the difference between good fires, like a barbecue, and bad fires,” Mr Sutton said.

“Should we visit high schools? I think, by that age, they know right from wrong.”

Police Minister Liza Harvey said arson was a serious crime and posed a major threat to the community.

Mrs Harvey reminded residents to phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 should they see anything suspicious.