A SPATE of deliberately lit grass fires have sparked a call for help from the Katherine Fire and Rescue Service.
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While fire fighters continue to work closely to prepare for and contain bushfires, they are now calling on the communnity to assist in catching bushfire arsonists and to keep an eye out for suspicious activity.
Station Officer Chris Manuel said Katherine fire fighters attend around 350 fires a year.
“About 98 per cent of the fires in Katherine are being lit deliberately.
“That is not only a massive issue of cost to the tax payers but also a big inconvenience to the community and of course a huge threat to lives and properties.”
Mr Manuel said lighting fires was a “cowardly activity”.
“Bushfire arson is a very serious offence and anyone lighting a fire is responsible for the full extent of that fire including any resulting damage.
“The NT Bushfires legislation supports this with penalties up to $25,000 and five years imprisonment.
“Historically the Katherine community has been fantastic in working together with the Fire Service and enabling us to protect the community.
Mr Manuel said his team of 21 permanent, auxilary and volunteer fire fighters was “keen to work tirelessly for the community” and he is hoping anyone who witnesses suspicious behavious will report it to the police assistance line on 131 444.
“Anyone who has information in regards to bushfire arsonists is urged to ring police immediately and provide as much detail possible - including any photos or vision of bushfires which contain suspicious individuals who have no official purpose in being in the vicinity of the fire, and descriptions, time and locations of persons acting suspiciously including what vehicle they were driving, if any.”
Mr Manuel said anyone with a lawful purpose for lighting a fire should seek a permit to burn, take extra care, supervise their fires and prevent them getting out of hand.
The Station Officer said fire fighters had already attended 115 grass fires since January, 107 alone since April.
“There’s been a massive increase of deliberately lit fires this dry season,” Mr Manuel said.
From April to mid June 2011 Katherine fire fighters were only called to 30 grass fires.
Throughout the entire grass fire season from April to September last year fire fighters attended 228 grass fire calls.
