Arsonist menacing Golden Grove


















MICHAEL MILNES, POLICE REPORTER

March 19, 2009 01:45pm



AFTER nine brush fence fires around Golden Grove in just two weeks, arsonists have been put on notice they face a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

Nine fence fires in the past two weeks has residents of an area of Golden Grove living in fear.
Mother of two Suheyla Ahmed has told how she was scared for her children's lives when a brush fence adjoining their house on Bennett Court was set on fire about 10pm Wednesday night.
Mrs Ahmed said she saw their fence - and a neighbour's fence across the laneway - on fire when she was some closing blinds for the night.

"I screamed 'oh my God there is fire', rang 000 and got my children out of the house," Mrs Ahmed said today.

Her husband Khaled screamed for help and then grabbed a garden hose. Along with neighbours, he tried to put out the fire.

The fence fire spread to a garden shed attached to their carport.
"If the fire had taken hold on the front of the house we could not get out because we do not have a side gate," Mrs Ahmed said.

"I was just so scared for my children. It is just so stupid."
The MFS put out two more brush fence fires that were lit in the laneway, which runs behind houses in the area.

The people responsible for setting these brush fences on fire are on notice from police that they face life imprisonment for their dangerous and irresponsible actions.
Detective Chief Inspector John McCafferey said "the maximum penalty for arson is life imprisonment".

"In a very short space of time we have had nine fires in that area and each one of those fires has had the potential to become life-threatening," he said.

"We have already mounted an operation in that area and have interviewed a number of people in relation to the fires."


Source: Adelaide Now