Resident’s red alert on suspicious fires

He said two of the fires were near Buggles Childcare Centre in Murdoch Drive.

‘Embers fell on the Buggles shade cloth where the children play; this could be a potentially dangerous situation.’ he said.

Department of Fire and Emergency Services Peel District Officer Rick Darlow confirmed there had been increased incidents in the area.

‘Fire activity has increased and there have been a lot of little fires around Mandurah during the last month.’ he said.

Mr Darlow said since February 28 there had been 15 tree, scrub and grass fires in Mandurah and nine similar small fires in the Greenfields area.

‘The arson squad prosecute anyone found to have participated in deliberately lit fires, so they monitor fire activity very closely.’ he said.

He said the public could play an active role in detecting and preventing arson by reporting any suspicious activity to Crime Stoppers.