Vic: Police hunt fire bug

AAP General News (Australia)
08-27-2009
Vic: Police hunt fire bug

MELBOURNE, Aug 27 AAP - An arsonist is believed to be responsible for a spate of car
and house fires in Melbourne's southeast in the past two weeks.

On Thursday night fire crews attended a truck fire in Springvale South about 3.20am
(AEST) and less than 20 minutes later they were called to a house around the corner in
Coomoora Road where a wheelie bin had been pushed up to the front door and set alight,
police said.

A family of five were asleep inside the house at the time, but a neighbour saw the
blaze and alerted authorities before the flames spread.

Police believe the arson attacks are linked to several similar recent incidents in the area.

On August 18 a home was targeted when rubbish at the front door was set alight about 5am.

The following morning two fires were lit at separate homes in nearby Gwent Street about 3.45am.

While nobody has been injured in the fires, police fear the fire bug will strike again
and are appealing for public assistance to help identify the culprit or culprits.

AAP mok/ldj

KEYWORD: FIRES

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