Western Australia's police force has declared war on firebugs, launching a major new operation to tackle the menace of deliberately lit bushfires during the critical summer season.
A Dedicated Force to Combat Arson
On Monday, WA Police officially commenced Strike Force Vulcan, a specialised team of investigators with a single-minded mission: to apprehend anyone responsible for lighting bushfires. The strike force will be active for the next three months, a period of heightened fire danger.
Detective Senior Sergeant Stephen Foley, the officer in charge of the police arson squad, confirmed the team's determined focus. "There has been a number of bushfires already this year, and there has been some arrests over those in the last month, and people have been brought to account for their actions," he stated.
He emphasised the severe consequences of arson, noting it leads to the loss of precious bushland, pasture, and, tragically, lives. "It’s a very serious matter, and Strike Force Vulcan takes that obviously very seriously, and we will investigate all the suspicious fires and do everything we can to bring those responsible to justice," Det-Sen. Sgt. Foley said.
Recent Fires Keep Investigators Busy
The arson squad, which forms the core of the new strike force, has already been under significant pressure in recent weeks. Their workload includes a major incident in Aubin Grove last Thursday, where a fierce blaze scorched 20 hectares and placed nearby homes in jeopardy. Thanks to the efforts of firefighters, no properties were destroyed, but the police investigation continues.
Another suspicious fire was reported on Friday along the Tonkin Highway in Bullsbrook. At the scene, investigators discovered a burnt-out Subaru Forester. The Strike Force Vulcan team is now urgently seeking to speak with the vehicle's owner as part of their inquiries.
Residents in Ardross also had a frightening experience on November 8 when a suspicious fire erupted and spread rapidly through Wireless Hill Park. Families enjoying the park and local residents were swiftly evacuated to ensure their safety. Aerial photographs revealed just how close the flames came to riverside homes, serving as a stark warning of the devastation a single fire can cause in suburban areas. No arrests have been made in connection with this fire.
A Track Record of Arrests and a Plea for Public Help
The previous season of Strike Force Vulcan, which ran for three months in 2023-24, yielded significant results. Detectives charged 92 people with 202 offences, with more than half of those apprehended being juveniles. The preceding summer saw 69 individuals charged with 104 offences.
Det-Sen. Sgt. Foley acknowledged that investigating arson is challenging. "Most of the time they happen in remote areas, and there’s not a lot of people around, there’s not a lot of CCTV available," he explained. "There’s limited witnesses, usually because people go into the bush, whether it’s in the metro area or in regional WA."
This is why public involvement is considered crucial. He urged anyone with information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to contact Crime Stoppers. A successful example occurred on October 9, when videos from the public directly led police to a man allegedly lighting fires on Welshpool Road in Lesmurdie, resulting in an arrest.
A reward of up to $25,000 is available for information that leads to the conviction of an arson offender, and Det-Sen. Sgt. Foley confirmed that rewards have been paid out in the past.
Collaboration with the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) is also key. DFES commissioner Darren Klemm provided sobering statistics, revealing that since January, 355 bushfires were deemed deliberately lit based on strong evidence of human intervention. A further 871 bushfires had potentially suspicious circumstances, accounting for roughly 28 per cent of all bushfires in WA this year.
"The number of deliberately lit or potentially suspicious bushfires has remained relatively steady, with approximately 30 per cent each year since 2020 deemed either suspicious or deliberately lit," Mr Klemm added. He stressed that it only takes one deliberately lit fire to have a devastating and long-lasting impact on a community.
