COLAC detectives say they have their eyes on the district’s firebugs.
Detective Peter Griffiths of Colac Criminal Investigation Unit said police had files on up to eight “persons of interest” in regards to arson.
“There are six to eight people who we have information on, and they are people who have previously been convicted or have been suspected of arson,” Det Griffiths said.
“We know who they are and we are able to keep track of their movements, especially on high-risk fire days,” he said.
Police are investigating an alleged arson attack that caused two bushfires at Irrewillipe’s White Peg and Pipeline Roads on Monday.
Det Griffiths said police were working with the Department of Sustainability and Environment to uncover the cause of the fire.
“We’re also keen to hear information from the community about any suspicious behaviour they might have noticed,” he said.
“It goes back to the whole message of ‘seen something, know something, say something’, which is really encouraging people to tell us if they see something, even if it might be a tiny detail.
“And that could also mean writing number plates down of any vehicles they think are suspicious.”
Powerline causes Colac naturestrip fire
by Alex WhiteA FAULTY powerline caused a power pole and nature strip to catch fire and houses to lose power in central Colac.
Sparks from a faulty powerline caused a nature strip and power pole to catch fire in Colac’s Murray Street.
Colac Fire Brigade Lieutenant Scott Peschel said a section of the line, which linked two power boxes, became disconnected causing sparks to fall on the grass below on Murray Street, Colac West, opposite the Colac West Post Office.
He said the fire burnt an area of the nature strip and flames also crept up the lower section of the power pole.
“It was a loop that goes from feeder box to feeder box which has dropped off one side sending sparks to the ground – which then ignited a small grass fire,” Lt Peschel said.
He said a nearby resident attacked the flames with a garden hose before fire crews arrived
about 9.30pm Tuesday.
“There was just a small burnt area, approximately one square metre which residents actually extinguished,” Lt Peschel said.
“We made sure it was out and notified Powercor and they were fairly prompt with being on the scene and they repaired the fault,” he said.
Nearby residents reported power outages due to the fault and fire.
Lt Peschel said three CFA trucks and 15 firefighters attended the scene for less than an hour.
He said fire crews took precautions although the fire was small.
“You’ve got to jump on them pretty quick, there wasn’t much to burn there just a small nature strip,” Lt Peschel said.
“But a fire is still a fire and can be dangerous but luckily the residents were switched on and doused it with a garden house,” he said.
“You take all precautions because you never know what you’re going to face.”
Meanwhile, another power line fault caused a pole to catch on fire near Camperdown on Wednesday morning.
Camperdown fire brigade captain Peter Stephens said morning moisture followed by a warm morning caused a line to short out at Black Rock Road, Camperdown.
“It usually happens when you get a bit of fog in the morning then a warm day,” Mr Stephens said.
