Australia: Marysville Brushfires, Firefighter suspect in deadly Wildfires

Updated: 16th April 2009, 17:00hrs - CFA member 'major bushfire suspect' -WST Victoria Police suspect a Country Fire Authority volunteer started the Marysville bushfire that killed 38 people, according to media reports

Victorian police close in on alleged arsonist

It is believed police are closing in on a man who is one of more than 1000 people who have beeen interviewed in relation to the Black Saturday blaze.

Police declined to confirm any breakthrough in what has been one of the arson squad’s most intensive investigations.

But media reports say police have made considerable headway and are on the arsonist’s trail.

There are reports that a CFA member had been secretly questioned and was being treated as a major suspect.

It said detectives from Taskforce Phoenix’s Operation Groove had found where the fire was lit and identified a small number of suspects.

The investigation is now focused on one man who is believed to have fought the fires which consumed every building in Marysville.

Earlier this month, senior police announced they had strong leads in the case and that an arrest could be imminent.

“We know the fire was deliberately lit and we want to apprehend and prosecute the persons responsible,” Assistant Commissioner (Crime) Dannye Moloney said.

“We are looking at some strong leads that indicate certain behaviours and we intend to pursue those but, of course, we need the community to give us the information to help us support that.”

While an arrest may be imminent, police will set up an information carvan at Marysville this weekend in their continuing search for information on the fire, which was one of several that raged through Victoria on the worst fire day in the State’s history.

MELBOURNE
Source: AAP - www.thewest.com.au - Link

CFA member 'major bushfire suspect'

Marysville fire: Almost every home and building was destroyed in the town. (AFP: William West)

• Map: Marysville 3779

Victoria Police and the Country Fire Authority are refusing to confirm or deny reports the major suspect in the Marysville bushfire investigation is a member of the CFA.

Detectives said earlier this month that they were closing in on the arsonist responsible for the blaze that killed 34 people.

Fairfax media is reporting the police investigation is now focused on the CFA member.

Police are said to have questioned and released the CFA member pending further investigation.

On April 1, Assistant Commissioner Dannye Maloney said the Phoenix Task Force was closing in on the Marysville arsonist and again appealed for public help.

"We know the fire was deliberately lit and we want to apprehend and prosecute the person/s responsible," he said at the time.

The investigation into the fires on February 7 have taken over 40,000 hours of police work, Victoria Police say.

Up to 250 police investigators have worked on the Phoenix Task Force on a daily basis.

Source: ABC -Link