Kids spark trouble in the break

Clementine Norton | 3rd July 2009

BORED kids could be behind a spate of grass fires that have sparked near-daily emergency calls since the start of the school holidays.

There has been at least four grass fires since school ended, including one at the Bundaberg Botanic Gardens on Wednesday.

Although one of those was believed to be a controlled burn that got out of hand, several of them are believed to have started under suspicious circumstances.

“History has shown the number of grass fires increases in school holidays, and it is usually blamed on school kids,” Queensland Fire and Rescue Bundaberg station officer Andrew McCracken said.

“A lot of times children have been seen leaving the area shortly before the fire is reported.”

Mr McCracken asked parents to keep a close eye on their kids when they were not at school, to make sure they did not get up to mischief that could have horrific consequences.

“What seems like a bit of harmless fun for a child could turn into a tragedy for someone else, if they are injured or have property damaged,” he said.

“Something that starts out small could turn out to be much more dangerous and put lives at risk.”

As well as the cost of injury or damage, a person responsible for deliberately setting a blaze could be fined under the Fire Services Act.

Meanwhile, an investigation into three break-ins at Bargara homes has resulted in two 14-year-old boys being charged with burglary.

Bundaberg Police Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Cameron Schneider said the boys allegedly stole jewellery, camping equipment, cash and electrical goods including iPods and cameras during the break-ins, which took place in the first weekend of the school holidays.

“After information from the public and investigations, police located two juvenile males,” Det Acting Sen Sgt Schneider said.

“About $3000 worth of property was recovered.”

He said one of the boys was dealt with under the Juvenile Justice Act.

The other teen will appear in court at a later date, charged with break-and-enter and burglary.