Update:
Police have arrested a 29-year-old male in relation to a bushfire off Robertson Drive and a blaze at St Mark’s Church, East Bunbury.
“At 10.30am on December 10, police responded to reports of a suspicious male on the grounds of Adam Road Primary School seen lighting fires,” Detective Sergeant James Gaunt said.
“At 11.05am, police and emergency service crews responded to another scrub fire just off Robertson Drive, Glen Iris. At the same time, a call came through about a fire at St Mark’s Church in Picton.
“As a result of police response, the male was seen jumping fences and trying to get away from police. The attending officers then located and arrested him.”
The man was charged with setting fire to bushland and criminal damage by fire.
He will face Bunbury Magistrates Court on December 11.
Police are calling for anyone with footage of the man from December 10 to come forward.
He was seen wearing grey tracksuit pants and a t-shirt in the Glen Iris/Robertson Drive area around 11am.
Det. Sgt. Gaunt praised the officers, fire crews, and community members involved.
Police investigate church blaze
Police are investigating a blaze which struck St Mark’s Church in East Bunbury, causing an estimated $60,000 damage.
First on the scene, neighbour Chris Hamilton said he saw smoke billowing from the church around 11.05am on Monday, December 10.
He and another neighbour used buckets of water to slow the blaze down.
“It’s a heritage-listed church and it’s impeccable...I’m pleased it’s still standing,” he said.
One neighbour used a hose on the fire, while others rang 000.
Crews from the Bunbury Fire and Rescue Service and Bunbury Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service then arrived on the scene, before extinguishing the blaze at 11.42am.
One witness, who did not wish to be identified, said a man was seen running up the street holding newspaper.
He was then seen attempting to open the front door to a nearby residence.
Another witness said the church was an active part of the community and that the incident was “sad to see at this time of year”.
The blaze has since been deemed suspicious.
Firefighters also attended a blaze off Robertson Drive at 11.18am.
Crews from the Bunbury Fire and Rescue Service, Bunbury City Bush Fire Brigade, and Bunbury Volunteer Bush Fire Brigade worked to extinguish the blaze around 1.13pm.
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