A retained firefighter will face court next month after being charged following bushfires at Kurri Kurri earlier this year., NSW Police say
On 18 January 2017, police from Central Hunter Local Area Command and firefighters responded to fires at Chinamans Hollow, Hart Road, Loxford, and McLeod Road at Kurri Kurri.
Strike Force Hingerty, comprising detectives from the Central Hunter Local Area Command assisted by the SCC Property Crime Squad’s Arson Unit, was established to investigate the causes of the fires and identify those responsible.
Following inquiries by strike force detectives, a 28-year-old man was arrested at a home in Hall Street, Weston, on Monday (31 July 2017).
He was taken to Maitland Police Station and charged with four counts of intentionally causing a fire and concealing a serious indictable offence of another person.
The man was granted conditional bail to appear at Cessnock Local Court on Wednesday 6 September 2017.
Strike force detectives also arrested a now 27-year-old man yesterday.
He was charged with an additional three counts of intentionally causing a fire and refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court today.
Strike Force detectives are continuing their inquiries into the cause of the January fires.
