Australia: Volunteer Firefighter, 19, Charged with Arson

A teenage volunteer firefighter has been charged with allegedly lighting seven fires in Australia’s southeastern state.

Since September, New South Wales has been ravaged by massive bush fires – which has led to the deaths of six people, the destruction of over 650 homes, and the loss of nearly two million hectares of land.

The 19-year-old volunteer firefighter – who has yet to be identified – was arrested on Tuesday, 26 November.

According to the authorities, he was seen lighting a fire next to a river in Bega Valley that same day. He then left the area in his car and returned to assist the NSW Rural Fire Service.

The volunteer has been charged with seven counts of allegedly carrying out arson between mid-October and late November. He also stands accused of being reckless to its spread.

The volunteer has since been removed from his duties. Appearing in a local court in Bega Valley on Wednesday, 27 November, he was granted conditional bail to return to the court on 17 December.

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