ACT Policing has charged a 20-year-old Mawson man following a number of small grass fires in Curtin earlier this morning.

About 2am today (Saturday 4 January 2020) a number of small grass fires were deliberately lit on the northern edge of Curtin. ACT Fire and Rescue extinguished the fires with no damage to property occurring.

At about 3.40am following an extensive search of the area, police took the 20-year-old man into custody.

He was subsequently charged with lighting a fire during a total fire ban.

The man is scheduled to appear in the ACT Magistrates Court today.

Police remind the community that anyone lighting a fire during total fire ban periods can face penalties of up to $32,000 in fines and or imprisonment for up to two years for breaching total fire ban conditions.

If anyone notices suspicious activity in the ACT’s open land or urban fringes, they should contact police on 131444 or 000 in an emergency.

ACT Policing’s officers are well aware of today’s total fire ban and are mindful of this as they patrol the ACT.

Media enquiries

Police Media — (02) 5126 9070, act-police-media@afp.gov.au