Teenager charged over starting a fire during a total fire ban period

A teenager has been charged after allegedly using a cigarette lighter to start a fire during a total fire ban period.

Just before 4pm on Tuesday, December 11, emergency services were called to the Pacific Hwy at Wyoming, following reports that a small bush fire had been deliberately lit. Two men extinguished the fire and were taken to Gosford Hospital for treatment for smoke inhalation.

Following inquiries, officers from Brisbane Water Police District arrested a 15-year-old boy at a property in Wyoming just before 8pm on the same day.

The teenager was taken to Gosford Police Station, where he was charged with cause or set fire to the property of another, or Crown.

He was granted strict conditional bail and is due to appear at a Children’s Court in January. Investigations are continuing, including into possible links to another deliberately lit bush fire in Wyoming which damaged a caravan.

Source: Media release, Dec 11 NSW Police Media