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A Rural Fire Service (RFS) volunteer firefighter has been charged following an investigation into several alleged deliberately lit fires on the state’s far north coast.
Detectives from Tweed/Byron Police District established Strike Force Epicentre – with assistance from the State Crime Command Financial Crime Squad’s Arson Unit and NSW RFS fire investigators – to investigate more than a dozen grass fires, believed to be deliberately lit, in the Burringbar and Mooball areas between October 7 and November 3.
As part of their inquiries, police examined the circumstances of a suspicious grass fire near a property on Yarrabee Terrace at Stokers Siding, about 13km south-east of Murwillumbah, that occurred at about 6.30pm on Tuesday November 3, which was reported to and extinguished by the NSW Rural Fire Service.
Following extensive inquiries, police stopped a vehicle in Broadway Street, Burringbar, yesterday and arrested an 18-year-old man.
A subsequent search warrant was executed at a Burringbar home where officers located and seized a replica pistol.
He was taken to Tweed Heads Police Station and charged with nine counts of intentionally cause fire and be reckless to its spread and one count of possess unauthorised pistol.
He was refused bail to appear at Tweed Heads Local Court today.
Police will allege in court the man lit several blazes in the area before returning to respond to the fire as part of his duties as a volunteer.
The NSW Rural Fire Service has immediately stood down the member.
