UPDATE: Police are seeking public help to identify a man they believe may be responsible for at least five deliberately lit bushfires in Sunbury.
According to police, the arsonist may be responsible for a spate of suspicious fires in bushland between January 1, 2014, and January 3 this year.
The most recent fire occurred on Saturday afternoon at the intersection of Webb Court and Emu Road.
The Country Fire Authority was called to the scene at 3.15pm and nine fire trucks helped control the grass fire within half an hour.
Police and a fire investigator were also called. The fire destroyed a quarter of a hectare of grass and bush land.
Over the past year, fires have been lit in Sunbury in Jacksons Creek, east of Racecourse Road, Emu Road and Kenway Street, around bushland near Webb Court and in parkland bordering Jacksons Creek and Grapeview Grove.
A man riding a trail bike has been spotted in the vicinity of several of these fires and police are appealing for him to come forward and assist them with their investigation.
Detective Acting Sergeant Dennis Cunha said with a bad wind, these fires could have posed a major threat to the Sunbury township.
“We believe the same person or persons are responsible and we are calling on the community to help us catch the arsonist by reporting any suspicious activity to triple-0 immediately,’’ he said.
“Even the smallest, seemingly insignificant detail could be vital to solving this case.”
Hume Crime Investigation Unit detectives have set up an information caravan in Racecourse Road in the hope people will come forward with any information about the fires.
On January 14 last year, a suspicious fire led to the closure of the Calder Freeway between Gap and Vineyard roads in Diggers Rest for a number of hours.
In January 2013, a suspicious grass fire came within metres of houses in the same area. The fire, which started near the Calder Freeway between Moore Road and Baggy Green Street, burnt 20 hectares, with a shed, car and some fences lost.
The information caravan is set up in Racecourse Road from noon until 5pm.
Anyone with any information is being urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
