By PRATHAMESH DESHPANDE
Photos: Prathamesh Deshpande
Esperance Detectives have arrested three Esperance Senior High School students for their alleged involvement with the bushfires surrounding the school, Senior sergeant Chris Taylor says.
He said Detectives charged a 13-year-old girl with one count of Breach of Duty Under Section 444A for the Pink Lake Road fire in Sinclair on February 13. She appeared before the Esperance Children’s Court on February 21.
The Weekender understands under Section 444A, a person who is in control of a source of ignition or a fire has a duty to use reasonable care and take reasonable precautions to avoid it destroying or causing damage to property.
A breach of this duty is punishable by a maximum penalty of imprisonment for 15 years.
Snr Sgt Taylor said two boys aged 13 and 14 had been referred to the Juvenile Justice Team.
Detective sergeant Wayne Davies said the accused were “f***ing around with matches by making little fires on bits and pieces, around the bushland area just outside the school’s fence”.
“One of the fires got out of control,” he said.
Sgt Davies said since they were three of the only kids who had not been in school that day, it led the Detectives to believe that they may be the accused.
Last week, a WA Police Media officer said Esperance Detectives were investigating the “suspicious” bushfires, with rewards of up to $25,000 available for information leading to an arsonist’s identification and conviction.
They said the first fire occurred at around 1.30pm on February 13, in bushland between Doug Murray Drive and Connolly Street in Pink Lake (Weekender, February 16 p5).
“The fire quickly spread, causing the evacuation of the local TAFE and Esperance Senior High School before being brought under control by Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) personnel,” the officer said.
“About 3.40pm the same day, another bushfire was reported at the rear of Frederick Street in Sinclair.
“Fortunately, no homes were damaged before DFES extinguished the fire.”
Melesha Sands of the WA Department of Education said there was “no impact to the structure of the school”.
ESHS Principal Ian Masarei took to social media to say that “everyone was kept safe and there has been minimal damage to buildings and equipment”.
He said he had “been assured that it is absolutely, safe to be on-site” the following day.
An Esperance Shire representative said local volunteer fire crews responded to the call and were supported by the Shire, DFES, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions and State Emergency Service.
She said firefighting efforts contained the fire to six hectares, saving classrooms at ESHS and TAFE buildings.
The representative said ESHS staff engaged their emergency plans by mustering students on the eastern oval and later evacuated them safely to the Evacuation Centre at the Esperance Sports Stadium on Black St.
