A man has been charged with five counts of arson following a series of bushfires in Perth’s Kings Park and in scrub near a nursing home.

November 3, 2023

A homeless man has been charged with five counts of arson after allegedly lighting a series of bushfires in Perth’s inner suburbs.

Police arrested the 41-year-old of no fixed address at the scene of the latest blaze in Kings Park late on Thursday.

That fire came dangerously close to apartment buildings overlooking the Swan River and city centre before fire crews contained it.

The man is accused of setting fire to vegetation on a steep embankment that skirts the large park on Mount Eliza.

Inspector Geoff DeSanges of WA Police said deliberately lit fires had the potential to kill people and animals, and destroy homes.

“The fire, as we saw yesterday, spread rapidly towards multimillion-dollar homes adjacent to Jacob’s Ladder,” he told reporters on Friday, referencing a set of steps in the park.

“It’s through the very quick action and outstanding work by our Department of Fire and Emergency Services that were able to prevent any significant damage to any property.”

Investigators say the man was also responsible for three other fires in the park on October 24, along with a blaze in grassland near a nursing home in the suburb of Nedlands on the same day.

Those fires in the park also threatened homes and rained ash before two dozen fire crews brought it under control.

Kings Park is one of the world’s largest inner city parks at about 400 hectares in size and 10km around.

“Kings Park is a significant cultural value to Western Australian residents and a much loved location in Perth,” Insp DeSanges said.

“Any fire within the park will be investigated by arson squad who use sophisticated intelligence gathering tools including overt and covert investigative strategies.”

The man was charged with five counts of wilfully light or cause to be lit a fire likely to injure or damage, which each carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

He is scheduled to appear in the Perth Magistrates Court on Friday.