2LT Local News
15-year old boy charged over Blue Mountains fire
Aug 22, 2018
A 15-year old boy has been arrested over a fire that police say was deliberately lit in the Blue Mountains last week.
The boy was arrested and charged in Parramatta on Tuesday.
The teenager is the fifth person to be arrested over the fire which was started at Blaxland about 4 o’clock last Wednesday afternoon. Local residents challenged the group of boys as there was a total fire ban in force at the time.
A number of teenagers left the scene while 3 sixteen-year olds stayed behind and tried to put the fire out. However they were unsuccessful and Fire & Rescue NSW had to be called in to stop the fire which was at this time spreading, and was heading for bushland.
The three 16-year olds were arrested at the scene by officers of the Blue Mountains Police Area Command.
The day after the fire, a 16-year old girl gave herself up at Springwood Police Station. She too was arrested and charged.
The five teenagers have all been charged with deliberately lighting a fire during a fire ban. There has been no suggestion they were intending to cause harm, however their actions were considered by police as reckless.
All 5 are scheduled to appear in a children’s court on Thursday 6 September 2018.
Police say their investigations are continuing.
