LIMESTONE Coast Police officials have implored Nangwarry residents to come forward with information following a deliberately lit fire that razed a house in the township.
The incident has fuelled alarm given there have been at least 12 fires – some deliberately lit – in the township since 2015.
While police have yet to link this latest house fire to other blazes in the town, law enforcers are calling for people who know things, have been told things and have seen something to come forward.
A family of five narrowly escaped the inferno that engulfed their O’Loughlin Street weatherboard home early Sunday morning when flames enveloped both the front and rear of the property.
The five occupants – including two teenage boys – ran out of the house. A 23-year-old man who woke the others was taken to hospital with smoke inhalation.
“The last thing this family was expecting was their house to be on fire,” Limestone Coast operations manager Inspector Campbell Hill said yesterday.
“It is incredible no-one was injured … it could have been a matter of minutes and we could be sadly talking about a multiple fatality.”
At a press conference, Inspector Hill revealed a number of residents had already provided information that was pointing police in a certain direction.
“We want to put this matter to rest and try and get some answers … the more information we get the bigger the picture we can put together,” he said.
The police official described the ongoing investigations into the fires at Nangwarry as incredibly frustrating.
“There is nothing to indicate the fire is linked to the other fires, but we certainly understand the community concern and the wider perspective,” Inspector Hill said.
“We have another family devastated because they have lost their house and possessions in the middle of June in the Limestone Coast’s cold winter.”
Regarding online speculation, the inspector described this as simply unhelpful.
“They need to tell police and not go to social media,” Inspector Hill said.
Nangwarry residents are also being urged to maintain their composure and engage with police.
“If we are in position down the track where we do identify a potential offender and we put someone before the court, any comments or criticisms, speculation and rumour congregated across social media will only go to impact us and act as a hurdle to try and put a matter before the criminal justice system,” he warned.
“We know this fire will bring up a range of emotions from people and will be a catalyst of concern for the wider community.”
In particular, Inspector Hill called on people not to take matters into their own hands.
“If there is an inclination or a flavour of retribution, that means people know things or suspect things. Tell us what you know and give us the ability to investigate the matter and deal with people as they need to be dealt with,” he said.
“There is no good dealing with rumour, people are only going to make themselves more exposed.
“We have had people victimised the whole way through with the lot of the fires that had occurred.
“At this point of time, I cannot be any clearer than saying we have not drawn any link to this recent fire to the other incidents that have occurred.
“We are in an early point in the investigation, we do have some lines of inquiry that we are following up.”
Inspector Hill would not be drawn whether the potential perpetrator or perpetrators were locals.
“It would be naive for me to assume it was simply one person. It would also be foolish to suggest there are multiple people,” he said.
But Inspector Hill flagged there was a chance a copycat could be involved.
“We need to investigate the evidence of each offence.”
Police will now step up a presence in the township, similar to what occurred after the Nangwarry Football Club blaze.
“We will be getting out amongst the community and speaking with people – there will be a heavy police presence.”
The investigation into the Nangwarry Football Club in January last year is continuing.
“We still have elements to the investigation that was still progressing,” Inspector Hill added.
Inspector Hill suggested residents living in the township should review security measures, check smoke alarms and formulate fire escape plans.
“We are aware there are some community members within Nangwarry who have taken it upon themselves to install closed circuit television,” Inspector Hill said.
“If people do have CCTV at their business premises or homes to go have a look to see if there is anybody who was out on O’Loughlin Street or even walking through the town, between 2am and 3am on Sunday morning.”
Visit www.crimestopperssa.com.au or contact 1800 333 000 with any information that will help police with the investigation.
