Man charged with starting bushfire in Western Australian state forest
A Western Australian man has been charged after allegedly being caught setting a dozen trees alight in bushland in the state’s south-west.
The 49-year-old was charged after a patrolling plane spotted a plume of large smoke coming from bushland south of Cundinup West Road, in the state forest, at about 2.30pm on May 22.
The man allegedly set fire to 12 grass trees. Parks and Wildlife Service
A spotter plane reported the man to police while conducting a patrol of the area. Parks and Wildlife Service
The pilot circled the bushland before spotting a vehicle nearby and alerting police.
Later that day, the vehicle was intercepted on Vasse Highway in Yoongarillup, and the man was later arrested and charged with setting 12 grass trees alight.
Fire crews arrived shortly after and extinguished the fire.
The Yalyalup man was charged with wilfully starting a fire likely to cause injury or damage.
He is set to front Busselton Court on June 8.
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