Two men will be summonsed to appear before the court for lighting a fire while a Total Fire Ban was declared last month.
A 55-year-old man from Buckland will be summonsed to appear on a charge of light a fire to clear land during permit period when not under authority of permit. Police will allege that on 28 January the man lit several spot fires around his paddock to clear the land while a Total Fire Ban was declared.
A 39-year-old man from Orford will be summonsed to appear on a charge of light a fire on day of total fire ban. Police will allege that on 31 January the man lit a fire using accelerant to destroy rubbish on his property while a Total Fire Ban was declared.
Inspector Peter Harriss of the Sorell Division, said “It’s important for the community to obey the conditions of Total Fire Bans when they’re declared by the Tasmania Fire Service.
“Total Fire Bans are put in place for a reason on high risk days to limit fire in the landscape to keep the community safe.
“The quick response by Tasmania Fire Service in attending and extinguishing these fires resulted in no property loss or damage as a result of either fire, but there was a very real potential for the fire to have spread and put the community at risk.
“I urge every member of the community to obey Total Fire Bans when they’re declared to help emergency services keep our community safe.”
