SUSPICIOUS FIRES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23320, 13 April 1939, Page 8

SUSPICIOUS FIRES

DAMAGE AT BAIXAIiAT THEORY OF THE POLICE WORK OF AN INCENDIARY [fbom oue own corhespondent] MELBOURNE, April 7 The activities of a "fire-bug" are causing great anxiety at Ballarat, where since the beginning of the year 18 fires, suspected as the work of one man, have done damage amounting to about £13,000. The most serious sufferer has been the Sunshine Biscuit Company, whose factory was set alight this week for the third time. The first fire in January caused damage estimated at £6OOO. A second fire at the factory in February was lit in a doorway, •where kerosene-soaked rags were found by a milkman shortly after they had been set alight. ,On that occasion only slight damage was done. . The fire at the factory this week caused damage estimated at £3OOO. Firemen arrived at 3.40 a.m. and were fighting a blaze at the rear of the building when their attention was directed to a fresh outbreak in front. Bags soaked in kerosene were found in four doorways. Iron was torn from the double roof by fire-fighters, who found difficulty in gaining entrance by the doors.

The police questioned several witnesses of the fire. It was stated that two young men saw a man drive away in a car parked outside the factory five minutes before flames Bhot through the windows. As in the case of the first fire at the factory, the Ballarat East brigade was lured from the station by a false alarm. On returning to the station it was found on both occasions that there was a fire at the factory. ' A theory that a man with a grudge against the company caused the fires has been discounted. Other premises, including houses, have been the scene of mysterious fires in the past three months; and it is believed that the incendiary is a person of unbalanced mind.