BUNBURY volunteer fire fighter Joshua Akers has been charged with allegedly lighting three fires at the Bunbury Forum Shopping Centre on Sunday to prompt an emergency service call out.
It is alleged that that the 18-year-old from Withers lit a fire at the rear of Eagle Boys on Sandridge Road, causing damage to the store.
The Sandridge Road Fish and Chip Shop was also damaged and a bin at the rear of KFC was destroyed.
South West Detectives charged Mr Akers with three counts of breach of duty.
Detective senior constable Gareth Reed told media this morning that the fires caused "no significant damage."
"The fires were all fairly well contained and they were extinguished fairly quickly by emergency personnel and it appears there has been only minor damage caused," detective senior constable Reed said.
“It's obviously a very serious situation, the main concern is the potential for those fires to spread – and as we are talking about commercial premises, there was potential for millions of dollars worth of damage to be caused.”
Detective senior constable Reed said it was a concern when someone in Mr Akers position lit fires deliberately.
Appearing in the Bunbury Magistrates Court on Monday, Magistrate Joe Mignacca-Randazzo read the three charges to Mr Akers to ensure he understood them.
Bunbury Police prosecutor acting sergeant Darren Grigson told the court he would not oppose bail but requested a condition where Mr Akers not be allowed to participate in work for the Department of Fire and Emergency Services.
Bail was granted on that condition with a $2000 surety.
Appearing as duty lawyer, Fiona Walsh told the court Mr Akers was employed by a business at Bunbury Forum and had no criminal record.
A Department of Fire and Emergency Services spokesperson confirmed Mr Akers had been stood down pending a result from court.
They said he had been serving in the volunteer fire service since February this year.
Mr Akers will reappear on October 13.