A man has been taken into custody by police following a concerning series of deliberately ignited fires across regional Victoria. The arrest comes as the state endures a severe heatwave, with temperatures soaring and emergency warnings in effect for multiple communities.
Series of suspicious fires in Goulburn Valley
Police allege that five separate fires were deliberately lit along Shepparton-Barmah Road in the Goulburn Valley region during the early hours of Friday and Saturday. According to official statements, two grass fires occurred in the Kaarimba area between 5:00 am and 5:40 am on Friday morning.
A further two fires were then allegedly ignited in Bunbartha between 12:50 am and 1:10 am on Saturday. Another fire was reported in Kaarimba at 1:20 am on Saturday. Fire authorities successfully extinguished each of these blazes, and fortunately, no injuries were reported from these incidents.
Arrest made following police investigation
Victoria Police intercepted a vehicle of interest on the Murray Valley Highway in Nathalia at approximately 3:30 pm on Saturday afternoon. Following this interception, officers arrested a 59-year-old man who currently has no fixed address.
The suspect is expected to be formally interviewed by investigators on Saturday evening as the police investigation continues. Authorities have not released further details about potential motives or connections at this stage.
Heatwave compounds fire danger across Victoria
These deliberately lit fires occurred as a dangerous heatwave struck most of Australia on Saturday. Temperatures exceeded 39 degrees Celsius in Kaarimba, with forecasts predicting they could reach 43 degrees on Sunday.
Tuesday is shaping up to be the most severe day of the heatwave, with at least one northern Victorian town forecast to reach a staggering 48 degrees Celsius. This extreme temperature could potentially break maximum temperature records for the region.
Emergency warnings issued for multiple communities
Emergency services issued multiple warnings on Saturday as bushfires burned out of control in various locations. Residents in Beech Forest, Carlisle River, Charleys Creek, Dinmont, Ferguson, Gellibrand, Irrewillipe, Pile Siding, Weeaproinah, Wimba, and Wyelangta were instructed to take shelter immediately.
A leave immediately warning was specifically issued for residents in Barongarook, Barongarook West, Carlisle River, Gellibrand, Irrewillipe, Irrewillipe East, Kawarren, and Lovat.
Victoria still recovering from recent bushfire devastation
The state continues to reel from horror bushfires that burned through Victoria earlier this month, with more than 410,000 hectares of land scorched by multiple blazes. Those devastating fires claimed one life and destroyed close to 900 structures, including 259 homes.
The combination of deliberately lit fires during an extreme heatwave presents significant challenges for emergency services already stretched thin from recent firefighting efforts. Authorities continue to monitor conditions closely as the heatwave persists across the region.
