Bush Fire Arson
Although typically thought of as natural disaster, bushfires are commonly the result of human intervention.
Up to 50 per cent of bushfires in Australia are deliberately lit or start in suspicious circumstances.
Arson in all forms is estimated to cost the Australian community $1.6 billion per year.
What is bush fire arson?
Bush fire arson is a crime. It involves the deliberate lighting of fires with the intent to cause damage or with disregard to the damage that might result.
Severe penalties apply for people proven to have committed acts of bushfire arson.
Other forms of fire setting can also cause catastrophic bushfire if not controlled properly and can also lead to penalisation by law. These include:
- camp fires
- hazard reduction burning
- sparks from agricultural or welding equipment
How can you help?
If you know something, say something.
The community plays an important role in detecting arsonists' suspicious behaviour and working with police to keep the community safe.
If you see something that looks out of place, this may be what the police are looking for.
Remember, the next deliberately lit bushfire may destroy property, injure or even kill someone.
If you know something, say something. You can: