By Luke Voogt
A spate of blazes across Torquay has prompted a police manhunt to prevent a potentially “catastrophic” fire in the town this summer.
Detectives believe a sole offender could be responsible for 10 fires beginning with a blaze at the property of Richmond Tigers player Nick Vlastuin on Grand View Road on October 23.
Police obtained CCTV footage of a masked offender lighting the fire in the early hours of the day before the AFL Grand Final but have yet to apprehend a suspect.
The nine following fires occurred within a four-kilometre radius of that incident, Torquay Crime Investigation Unit Detective Sergeant Duncan Frame said.
“We believe based on that – and the type of fires they have been – that it’s the one person.”
The most recent fire occurred on New Year’s Day at the Australian National Surfing Museum toilet block, with the majority occurring during December.
The fires include four at recently-completed or under-construction buildings, including at least two using accelerant, and another six suspicious bushfires.
Detective Sergeant Frame said a bushfire at Deep Creek Reserve on December 30 could have had catastrophic consequences if not for unseasonably cool weather and a quick response from firefighters.
The reserve is adjacent to several homes, he said.
“That could have really taken off if it was a bit drier and we had a hot wind, which would have put a number of lives and houses at risk.
“CFA attended and managed to put [the various bushfires] out before they spread too far.
“That’s probably down to luck more than anything with the weather we’ve had.”
Police have also obtained CCTV footage which shows an offender hurling a flaming object to ignite a structure fire at Central Avenue on December 16.
With hotter drier weather forecast for the weekend and next week, Detective Sergeant Frame said police would increase their patrols in the area.
During 29 years in the force the detective has attended the aftermaths of bushfires and several fatal house fires.
“I’ve seen the devastation and harm that they can cause and the speed at which the can spread,” he said.
He urged anyone with information on the fires to phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or report it online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
“My gut feeling is that someone in the town will know who this person is – we just need them to come forward with that information.
“If we can identify who it is, we can deal with it from a criminal perspective but also from a welfare perspective.
“It might be the case that they don’t have an understanding of how dangerous and serious the consequences their actions could be.”
