Young boys in arson scourge
Firebugs have sparked an average of nine bushfires a day this summer, with arson confirmed as the cause of nearly 540 WA blazes in just two months.
Police say about 360 of those fires were in the Perth metropolitan area - about six a day in December and January.
Strike Force Vulcan - the police operation targeting arsonists - has charged 34 people in that time but police admit they catch only a small percentage of those who light fires.
Det-Sen. Sgt Craig White said all of those charged this summer were male but only four were adults, with the rest aged 10 to 17.
He said most of the young arsonists had not fully understood the potentially devastating consequences of their acts and he urged parents to do more to educate their children about fire safety.
"If you have got boys aged 10 to 17, talk to them," Det-Sen. Sgt White said. "It is unfortunate that boys have a fire fascination in those years and you need to explain to them what the consequences are because if they light a fire, it can kill people and destroy massive amounts of property."
Det-Sen. Sgt White said most of those charged had never been in trouble before and their parents were horrified when police turned up at their door.
Arson carries a 20-year jail term under the Bushfires Act but children are often diverted into counselling, which has proved an effective way to stop them reoffending.
Det-Sen. Sgt White said adult offenders were more difficult to manage because the fascination with fire was often linked to continuing psychological issues.
He said about 30 adults considered high-risk offenders were on a watch list and were regularly monitored during summer using a mix of covert and overt surveillance.
"Some people can lie dormant for years and others remain quite active constantly," Det-Sen. Sgt White said.
"We know most of them quite well and will pay them irregular visits as well as using other resources."
Police Minister Liza Harvey said police relied on information from the community and she was pleased calls to Crime Stoppers about arson had almost doubled this summer.
"The fire season is far from over and we are really imploring the community to continue to engage with us," she said.
Rewards are possible.
