Three males charged over string of Hedland fires

South Hedland Detectives have arrested and charged three males from South Hedland with criminal damage by fire as a result of their investigation into a series of fires in the Port and South Hedland areas between 2019 and 2020.

The arrests follow a lengthy investigation by detectives to identify suspects in relation to a large number of suspicious fires targeted at business premises, vehicles and unoccupied dwellings during the period.

It will be alleged the three offenders are responsible for fires at a business premises in Moorambine Street in Wedgefield, Stanley Street in South Hedland, Morgan Street in Port Hedland and the Pippingarra community.

The total damage cost of the fires is an estimated $190,000.

A 22-year-old man and a 19-year-old man will appear before the South Hedland Magistrates Court on June 15 and a 17-year-old boy will appear in South Hedland Children’s Court on June 12.

South Hedland detective senior constable Michael Greene said one of the properties was targetted twice.

“An address on Moorambine Street, Wedgefield was targetted on July 12, 2019, where a deliberately lit fire destroyed two abandoned dongas and spread to an adjoining caravan,” he said.

“The same address was again targetted in February of this year at the remaining solitary dwelling.

“Investigations have revealed the use of accelerate and burnt at such a heat investigators could not access the damage for over 24 hours due to the heat.”