Three acts of fire-related vandalism were recorded in Ashmont across the weekend, adding to a string of related incidences this year.
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Wagga police say a “dobber’s doctrine” is what stands in the way of solving the increased rate of arson.
The latest attack in the fire-bug infested suburb has prompted fresh calls for witnesses to come forward.
Emergency services were dispatched to an intentionally-lit house fire in Ashmont just after midnight on Saturday.
Crews arrived at Buna Street to find a previously fire-damaged house alight.
At 8.15am firefighters received yet another call to the former home – now an abandoned building inhabited by squatters.
Turvey Park Station Officer Chad Kennis said fortunately the flames were quickly extinguished but the frustration felt by firefighters and the surrounding community was still burning.
“An hour later we got a call for a grass fire in a vacant block at 10.34am,” Mr Kennis said. “It’s frustrating to keep getting these calls and it’s frustrating for other residents around who are doing the right thing.”
He said although the grass fire was lit in a vacant block, it had damaged a neighbours colorbond fence and crept into their yard.
Mr Kennis said the arson attacks – now a regular occurrence –were putting innocent people in danger and taking away limited resources from fires that weren’t nuisance-caused.
“Residents are saying they’re angry,” he said. “It happens too often for them.”
Mr Kennis said those who answered the bell were also putting their lives at risk every time they responded with lights and sirens.
He said even though the risk was a hazard of firefighting, it was always better if the number of incidences were limited.
Mr Kennis said everyone in the area was doing their best to keep and eye and an ear out for the perpetrators but urged anyone with information to speak.
“When it’s your community you want these problems to be sorted out,” he said. “You don’t want to live with it every day.”
Wagga police chief Bob Noble said the investigation’s success would only be possible if people came forward.
He said there was someone in the community who had information about who was behind the fires being lit in Ashmont.
“Unfortunately we have a social doctrine not to be a bunch of dobbers,” he said. “We’ve got to break this theory.”
Superintendent Noble said of all property crime, arson was the most dangerous.
“We know the capacity it has to cause harm and death,” he said. “We need to break through so people can tell us what’s going on.”