Friday 24 January 1997

Lone firebug may have struck: officer

By CLAIRE MILLER
chief political correspondent

A lone firebug could have been resposible for lighting five fires within the space of an hour that claimed three lives and destroyed 33 homes on Tuesday, police said yesterday.

``Geographically, it would not be impossible for one person to travel throughout the whole distance lighting the fires,'' said Detective Senior Sergeant Adrian Edwards, of the arson squad.

Five fires were set over about one hour, beginning in Fussell Road, Kilsyth, at 11am. The fatal fire that swept up the mountain through Ferny Creek was the fourth one. It started about one kilometre away in Tobruk Avenue, The Basin, about midday.

Several vehicles were seen around the five areas when the fires broke out, and more than one person might be involved. The police do not yet have firm descriptions of suspects but they believe the fires were the work of adults.

Detective Edwards said forensic investigations had ruled out accidental causes for the fires.

On the question of whether murder charges would be laid over the deaths of Graham and Jennifer Lindroth and their neighbor Genevieve Erin, in Seabreeze Avenue, Ferny Creek, Detective Edwards said the investigation was still in its infancy.

``All available evidence and material would have to be collected and looked at and a decision made down the track.''

Police were not necessarily looking for local culprits as the five sites were all accessible from main roads and would not have required local knowledge, he said.

He said police spent yesterday in the hills interviewing residents. He appealed to the public for more information, particularly regarding the Tobruk Avenue fire.