New Year’s Eve fires that were “caused by the unlawful discharging of flares” remain under investigation by police more than a week after they ignited.
Three significant fires broke out in the Strahan area on New Year’s Eve, which Sergeant Danny Jackson says “had the potential to put homes and infrastructure at risk”.
Multiple flares were observed being discharged within the Strahan township at midnight and from West Strahan beach during the early hours of the morning.
“These flares usually used by marine vessels in distress, can reach altitudes of up to 300 meters and burn for around 40 seconds,” he said.
“This means the flares, if fired over land, have a significant likelihood of causing a fire if they fall onto combustible material.”
“This behaviour not only creates the need for a significant emergency services response, leaving other towns with limited resources, but also causes alarm within the community and has the potential to impact homes and businesses in the area as well as threatening wildlife and the environment.”
“Police remind the public it is an offence to activate an emergency distress flare unless during a genuine emergency.”
The local Strahan Fire Brigade said the incidents were “disappointing to start the new year” and thanked crews from across the West Coast for giving up their night to extinguish them.
“We used approx 16 lengths of hose, 6 appliances and a lot of hard work by our members to extinguish these fires,” the brigade said.
Anyone with information about those responsible is urged to contact the police, particularly if they have CCTV or mobile phone footage capturing the offences.
