The suspicious fires were started near the small town of Rennie. Photo: Mattinbgn.
NSW Police are appealing for dashcam footage as they continue investigations into a number of suspicious fires in the southern Riverina over the past fortnight.
Strike Force Lafayette was established this month to investigate several suspicious grass fires between Sunday 28 December and Tuesday 6 January, in and around the town of Rennie, about 24 km north-east of Mulwala.
At about 11:45 am on Monday (5 January), emergency services responded to Bull Plain Road, Rennie following reports of a grass fire. Rural Fire Service volunteers responded and put out the blaze, which burnt a small area of grassland. No property was damaged. Officers attached to Murray River Police District responded and commenced an investigation into the circumstances of the fire.
At about 6:40 pm on Tuesday (6 January), emergency services responded to a property on Pattersons and Summerglen Road Rennie, following reports of a grass fire. About one hectare of grassland was burnt. No property was damaged. Officers attached to Murray River Police District responded and commenced an investigation into the circumstances of the fire.
Police are appealing for anyone who may have dashcam footage and or seen anything suspicious to come forward and contact Albury Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Murray River Police District Commander Superintendent Paul Smith said there were concerns with hot weather forecast over the coming days.
“We are concerned with hot conditions over the next few days, that there may be more incidents, so we are urging anyone who has dashcam footage or videos to come forward and provide them to police or submit them through the QR on our Murray River PD Facebook page,” he said.
“This is a senseless act. Fires can have a devastating impact and can cause loss of life and there is no place for this type of behaviour in our community.”
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or through the Crime Stoppers website. Information is managed on a confidential basis. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
