The State Crime Command Arson Unit will work in conjunction with the Mid North Coast Police District, Kempsey Fire and Rescue and NSW Rural Fire Service to investigate the recent spate of fires in the Kempsey region.
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Kempsey Fire and Rescue and NSW Rural Fire Service have been called to more than 70 fires since the bush fire season officially launched on August 1 and some of those appear to be deliberately lit.
Detective Sergeant Hassan El-Khansa from the NSW Arson Squad has been tasked to investigate the deliberately lit fires and find out who is responsible.
Det Sgt El-Khansa has urged the public to come forward with any relevant information.
"The range of investigative functions at our disposal include the examination forensically of the fire scenes, the approaching of witnesses of people who have made themselves available to police and the canvassing (of the scenes) by numerous police today and tomorrow," Det Sgt El-Khansa said.
"Information that comes in from the public is the most important pieces of evidence that we can obtain, because they have direct sightings and knowledge of those who are responsible."
The Arson Unit has been called to Kempsey due to a "significant spike" in deliberately lit fires.
"The reason that we are up here is because that spike is significant, we monitor the trends across the state on a daily basis and when we identify an increase in a spate of fires we work with local police to try and bring that down to a reasonable level," Det Sgt El-Khansa said.
Detective Chief Inspector Kim Fehon said deliberately lighting fires can have dire consequences and those responsible will be punished.
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"The significant spike in fires has been a risk to people's lives," Insp Fehon said.
"There has been grass fires and structural fires which have ranged from minor to complete destruction and at this point we have had no loss of life or serious injury but of course that is always the risk with fire."
NSW RFS Lower North Coast Superintendent Lachlann Ison said the added workload from deliberately lit fires takes its toll on the firefighters.
"It's disappointing people are deliberately lighting fires because it means we have to fight fires that aren't necessary and shouldn't have occurred," he said.
"It's added and unnecessary pressure on firefighters."
Everyone is welcome to attend the community arson information meeting, which is facilitated by the NSW Police Force, is being held at the Kempsey Shire Council Chambers tonight (August 20) at 5.30pm.
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