Pair of teenagers from McKail and Bayonet Head charged with deliberately lighting bushfire near NASHS

Two teenagers have been charged after they were found to have deliberately lit a fire in dense bushland next to North Albany Senior High School last week. A 14-year-old from McKail and a 13-year-old from Bayonet Head were charged with starting a fire that ignited trees, grass and scrub on Thursday afternoon. Police charged the pair on Sunday with one count of breach of duty of a person in control of an ignition source or fire. They were issued with written cautions. Albany officer-in-charge Sen. Sgt Carlos Correia said the deliberately lit fire reignited after the two teens tamped it out. Emergency services were called to the scene near Bruce Way and John Street in Milpara about 2.08pm after flames were sighted coming from the bushland, located only metres away from the school grounds. Four appliances from Albany Fire and Rescue attended the scene and managed to extinguish the fire by 3pm. “We’re approaching the fire season now and the seriousness of lighting fires cannot be understated,” Sen. Sgt Correia said. “These incidents can often lead to damage and loss of life. “We strongly urge that if any suspicious persons are seen lighting fires that it is reported to police or Crime Stoppers. “It is very important that everyone jumps on board to help and keep the community safe.”