Thirteenth fire believed to be linked to Torquay firebug

POLICE are again appealing to the public for information after discovering another suspicious fire within Torquay.

A small scrub fire was located behind a ‘welcome to Torquay’ sign on the Surf Coast Highway and is believed to be linked to a spate of suspicious fires in the Deep Creek area since October 2020.

The Torquay Crime Investigation Unit believe the unknown offender used accelerant to start the fire before it burnt out earlier this week.

Police expressed their concerns about the fire’s location which was near a powerline and could cause greater damage to surrounding bushlands and structures if the fire spread.

It is believed to be the thirteenth fire started by the unknown offender and follows a January 27 blaze at Deep Creek Park resulting in an estimated $40,000 worth of damage to a public playground.

Since the initial Grandview fire on October 27, several scrub and structure fires have been reported within a four-kilometre radius, and Sgt Duncan Frame said CIU believed the incidents were related.

“We are going to treat it as linked based on the location and it appears some accelerate was used which is similar to some of the other fires,” he said.

A pattern has yet to be identified following six weeks of no suspicious fires in the area.

Despite releasing official CCTV footage and urging locals to come forward with information, Sgt Frame confirmed police had yet to receive any intel that can be linked to a suspect.

“We have had some members of the community providing little bits of information, but nothing has panned out as of yet,” he said.

Police believe the suspect is a local known to someone within the community causing investigators to appeal to anyone with information.

If you have any information in relation to this fire or know the identity of the person responsible contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or at crimestoppers.com.au.