Accused arsonist charged with setting fire amid bushfire danger
An accused arsonist has been charged for setting fire to crops in Rockhampton as dangerous bushfires continue across the state.
Major and Organised Crime Squad detectives charged the 27-year-old Rockhampton man following investigations into suspicious fire believed to have been deliberately lit at Bouldercombe on Friday.
The man was arrested for attempting to allegedly light a grass fire beside the Burnett Highway, Port Curtis about 11.30am.
The Rural Fire Brigade, police and community members worked together to extinguish the fire.
The Rockhampton man has been charged with one count of setting fire to crops and is due to appear in the Rockhampton Magistrates Court on Monday.
This is the second arson charge in the past nine days, following the arrest of a 26-year-old Rockhampton man who set fire to vegetation on November 28.
Police said the fire was lit about 4.50pm on November 27 on Farm Street, near the corner of Haynes Street at Port Curtis.
A small amount of vegetation on the property was burnt but no structures were damaged before controling the blaze.
The man is due to appear in the Rockhampton Magistrates Court on December 17, charged with one count of endanger property by fire.
Deputy commissioner Bob Gee said officers caught two men after brief foot chases, following a tip-off from members of the public about the alleged arson attacks.
"Now, both of these incidents, the offenders were arrested very, very quickly, due to the public coming forward," he said.
"I've got to stress the point that neither of these incidences are related to the Stanwell fire [about 20 kilometres south-west of Rockhampton]."