The City of Cockburn is planning to hire a bushfire risk assessment officer.
Camera IconThe City of Cockburn is planning to hire a bushfire risk assessment officer. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Swan View man (44) charged over bushfires throughout region

Sarah BrookesMidland Kalamunda Reporter

ARSON Squad and Strike Force Vulcan investigators have charged a 44-year-old man from Swan View over several bush fires that caused significant property damage between December 2015 and December 2016.

It will be alleged the man lit fires in Middle Swan in December 2015, February 2016 and October 2016, Midland in January 2016, Gidgegannup in March 2016, November 2016 and December 2016, and in Jane Brook in November 2016.

The man was charged with lighting 16 fires likely to injure any person or damage any property and will appear in Midland Magistrates Court today.

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Inspector Brett Baddock said numerous tools were utilised to catching arsonists including covert cameras and surveillance.

“Arson is a serious offence and in WA the maximum penalty is life imprisonment,” he said.

“Deliberate fires place an enormous financial burden on the community and have the potential to kill and injure people and animals, and destroy homes and animal habitats.”