The growth of vegetation across Central Australia as a result of the significant rainfall earlier this year is giving cause for concern to the Northern Territory Fire and Rescue Service and Bushfires NT.

There has been a significant increase in the number of large fires burning across the region. Of some concern is the many grassfires reported recently around Alice Springs, culminating in last week’s very large fires on the outskirts of the town, which at one time threatened property and residents in the Larapinta Drive area.

Over several days, firefighters from NTFRS and Bushfires NT worked very hard to contain these fires and they are now tired and hoping for some respite. However, it is believed that several smaller fires have been deliberately lit around Alice Springs over the past few days and that the people responsible have not yet been apprehended.

The Acting Director NTFRS Mr Mick Ayre has commented that NTFRS and Bushfires NT work very closely with NT Police to detect and investigate illegal fires and any individual caught lighting fires under these circumstances will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

The fines for illegally lighting a fire in contravention of the Fire and Emergency Act have recently been upgraded and as of 1 July 2011, the maximum penalty for illegally lighting a fire is $13,700 or two years imprisonment.    

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Amy Sloan
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