TWO torched cars in the span of two days has Wagga firefighters concerned for these reckless acts becoming serious threats leading into summer.
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Rural Fire Service crews extinguished a grass fire yesterday afternoon caused by a car set alight under the Eunony Bridge.
It came one day after Fire and Rescue swiftly tackled a car burning in bushland at Moorong in the early hours of Monday morning.
Fire and Rescue's zone commander superintendent Stewart Alexander said firefighters were fortunate to arrive quick enough to extinguish the blaze before it posed a risk to homes, businesses, crops or livestock.
However, he said there is "a very real risk" of fire spreading rapidly in bush and grass land, which is where both these vehicles were set alight.
"A burning car can set fire to bush and grass if it is in the vicinity of that and cause a much larger fire particularly during this time of year," he said.
The state's fire agencies have already identified grassland and paddocks will be the main focus for firefighters this bushfire danger period after a spate of wet months increased fuel loads.
Mr Alexander said extinguishing torched cars was "serious business" with a high risk of injury or worse when tackling fires fueled by volatile substances.
"There are dangers for the firefighters, who are near the intense burning from the car and sometimes the fuel load presents an explosion risk, which is not only a major danger for firefighters but also a public safety issue," he said.
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"There are a lot of components in those vehicles. While there are safety measures in them, an uncontrolled fire may cause them to fail and present an even greater risk.
"Another risk that we may encounter is a trades person's vehicle being set alight, which happens from time-to-time. They carry various fuels and tools, so it adds to the risk depending on what the freight is in these vehicles."
Mr Alexander said car fires in suburban streets could also rapidly become a house fire. He said this too, threatens the community's safety and stressed to call triple-zero if anyone becomes aware of a car burning.
"Even if you think someone else may have called already, we cannot get enough calls so that we are alerted early," he said. "And if there is the slightest of doubt that triple-zero hasn't been called, then call."
Mr Alexander also encouraged people to report any suspicious behaviour to police and ensure vehicles were secured at all times.
"Don't leave keys in the car and keep it locked at all times when you are not in attendance," he said.