THE CFA will be on the lookout for suspicious fires sparked by torched cars in Wyndham’s growth suburbs this summer.
Hoppers Crossing CFA operations officer Lachlan Redman said Wyndham’s “urban-rural interface” – which spans Tarneit, Truganina and Wyndham Vale – had increasingly become a hotbed for stolen cars to be dumped and set alight.
He said firefighters were called to abandoned car fires in the area at least three or four times a week.
“It’s certainly a high-end risk, a near-daily occurrence, and it poses a serious threat of starting fast-running grassfires,” he said.
Mr Redman said people often set alight stolen cars to destroy fingerprints or evidence, “but don’t think of the consequences beyond that”.
The CFA’s warning follows a fire on November 21 that tore through grassland in Toolamba, in Northern Victoria . Investigators believe that a car found on the banks of the Goulburn River was the starting point for the fire that spread across nine hectares of grass and scrub.
Warm winds and temperatures higher than 30 degrees that day caused the fire to spread rapidly, according to the CFA.
Mr Redman said the arson squad was regularly called to car fires in Wyndham and police would investigate if there were suspicious trends this season.
He said people should be “especially vigilant” when undertaking fire prevention measures like slashing or burning off.
He said windy days were unsuitable for fuel-reduction activities.
Weather forecasters are predicting a hot, dry summer will follow the last two years of milder conditions.
For more bushfire safety information, visit cfa.vic.gov.au
