Aberfeldy man charged over bushfire
 Baw Baw News   By // 14:33, Wednesday 30 January 2013

amy schwartz licola fire

A 75-year-old man has been charged with five offences related to the Aberfeldy bushfire.

Photo: by Amy Schwartz.


ADVERTISEMENT

The Aberfeldy man’s charges include recklessly cause bushfire and causing a fire to be lit without written authority in a fire protected area.

The fire started on a rural property on the morning of Thursday 17 January and has burnt over 75,000 hectares of land in Aberfeldy, Heyfield and Seaton.

The man will face the Latrobe Valley Magistrates’ Court soon.

Related: Aberfeldy fire ‘being controlled’


ADVERTISEMENT

Police investigating possible suspicious activity before Aberfeldy fire

1.50pm, 19 January 2013.

POLICE are seeking public assistance from anyone who may have seen anything suspicious in the hours leading up to the Aberfeldy bushfire.

More: Walhalla, Rawson, Erica ‘not under direct threat’ from bushfire 

<Below from Victoria Police media release>

Police would like to speak to anyone who was camping in the Donnelly Creek Road area on Thursday morning from 9am.

They are particularly interested in any photographs or video that may have been taken of the area while people were evacuating.

Any [locals] or anyone else who was in the area at the time when the fire is believed to have started at around 11.30am and evacuated are also urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit www.crimestoppers.com.au.

Police from the Arson and Explosives Squad will be attending the scene today. Investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing.


ADVERTISEMENT

At this time nine properties in the Gippsland area have been destroyed, as well as a number of permanent and non-permanent dwellings at the Glenmaggie Caravan Park.

The body of a male was also located deceased in a burnt out vehicle in the Seaton area around 5pm yesterday. The death is being investigated by the Coroner. No further information around the man’s identity is available at this time.

 Get free email updates from the Baw Baw Citizen 

 Read more Baw Baw News