POLICE are asking for the public’s help to track down those responsible for a fire that destroyed 10 acres of grassland in Torulosa Way and threatened houses in Glenroi on Wednesday night.
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Canobolas Local Area Command duty officer Linda Bradbury said police are looking for children who were seen in the area at around 7pm when the fire started.
“We believe the fire was deliberately lit,” she said.
“Our enquiries have led us in the direction of a group of children who were in the vicinity prior to the fire.”
Inspector Bradbury said the fire spread quickly and came dangerously close to houses in the area.
“It could have been worse if it wasn’t for the good work of firefighters,” she said.
Hundreds of people flocked to the area to watch the fire, forcing police to cordon off parts of Glenroi.
At 9pm firefighters were still on the scene trying to put out the last spots of the fire, which had engulfed the privately-owned block of land.
Nearby residents claim Wednesday night’s blaze is the third grass fire in the neighbourhood in as many weeks.
The President of the Glenroi Community Group Melissa Hatton said residents were angry that more had not been done to ensure the area was better maintained.
“They have been trying to get things done with the land for years,” she said.
“Older residents worried it could have been their houses.”
Ms Hatton said the area had been overgrown for many years and neighbouring residents had campaigned to have it maintained.
“It’s just lucky it wasn’t a stinking hot day,” she said.
“It could have been worse.”
Ms Hatton said while she understands the land is privately owned, residents want Orange City Council to intervene and turn the land into a sporting field.
“The owner has a duty of care,” she said.
“Council should be able to get on to the owner and make sure it’s maintained.”
Ms Hatton said not only was the area a fire hazard, the grass also harboured snakes, rodents and spiders.
“It’s dangerous,” she said.
Council spokesman Nick Redmond said councils don’t have the power to enforce the removal of hazardous long grass.
“We understand the owner was instructed by the Rural Fire Service (RFS) to create a boundary fire break and that order was complied with,” he said.
Mr Redmond said council invests significant community funds in parks and expanding parks to reduce the risk of fire and vandalism is not the solution.
“Orange City Council, along with Housing Plus and the NSW government, is working to improve the quality of what’s offered to the community in Edye Park, such as upgrading the basketball court,” he said.
The supervisor of the Canobolas zone of the RFS David Hoadley confirmed the site had been inspected on December 8 and the owner had complied with a request to clear the property on December 22.
Superintendent Hoadley said this block was one of between 250 to 300 blocks monitored by the Canobolas RFS.
Anyone with fire footage is asked to contact police.
