Arson in Mid-West, Goldfield & Midlands regions highlighted in discussion paper

28/7/99
More than five per cent of deliberately lit or suspicious fires attended by the Fire and Rescue Service (FRS) in Western Australia in the past 12 months were in the Mid-West, Goldfields and Midlands regions.
Emergency Services Minister Kevin Prince said today it was extremely disturbing that more than 19,000 of the 39,633 fires attended by the Fire and Rescue and Bush Fire Services and the Department of Conservation and Land Management throughout the State between 1995 and 1998, were suspicious or deliberately lit.
The metropolitan area accounted for 86 per cent of fires of suspicious origin in the 12 months to June 30 this year.
The Minister has released for public comment a discussion paper prepared by the Arson Task Force, a committee established by former Emergency Services Minister Bob Wiese which includes senior representatives from a range of Government and non-Government agencies.
The paper "Flame Out" - Combating Arson in Western Australia outlines a number of current and future interagency and community-based strategies designed to reduce the number of suspicious and deliberately lit fires in the State.
Mr Prince said the metropolitan area, as the State's most concentrated population centre, presented the greatest challenge to the agencies involved in fire prevention.
"The FRS statistics give a clear indication of where further work needs to be done to reduce the incidence and effects of arson," the Minister said.
"While this State already has in place a wide range of strategies to combat arson, with the co-operation of the community we can further reduce the number of deaths, injury and property losses resulting from this irresponsible act."
"The assistance of the community, through this initiative and the Safer WA program, will greatly assist the Government in its wider strategy to improve the level of safety and security in Western Australia."
Mr Prince said that the FRS did not release individual details of deliberate or suspicious fires, nor details of numbers in regions for reasons of confidentiality and security - many are still under investigation.
The FRS used percentages to show trends and indicate where prevention work was needed most.
Though the overall percentage of incidents was low in the Mid-West, Goldfields and Midlands regions, 74 per cent of the deliberately lit or suspicious fires in those regions occurred in the main centres.
The Minister said the Fire Services were already working closely on fire prevention with the local government authorities in these areas.
Commander Murray Lampard (Crime Investigations Support) said it was difficult, for a variety of reasons, for authorities to accurately determine the full extent of deliberate fire lighting or the real extent of arson in WA.
"We as a police service have come a long way in the field of arson investigation," Commander Lampard said.
"Technology, training, procedures and partnerships now mean that the skill base of a number of agencies is focused on the successful investigation of arson crimes.
"We need the community to be vigilant and pass on information to the police and fire services if they see a fire being deliberately lit or someone acting suspiciously in their area. The Arson Reward Scheme offers informants rewards of up to $25,000 for information leading to the conviction of arsonists."
Copies of the Arson Task Force discussion paper can be obtained by writing to the Executive Officer, Arson Task Force c/- Fire and Emergency Services Authority, 480 Hay Street Perth 6000.
Public submissions close on September 1.
Media contacts:Kirsten Stoney 9220 5000 or Kristine Smith (FESA) 9323 9329