Hunt on for tree arsonist

GREATER Dandenong council has called for top-level regional police involvement in apprehending a firebug who is terrorising Springvale residents with deliberately lit fires.
Noble Park North Ward councillor Maria Sampey put forward a notice of motion at this week’s council meeting that the council write to the Region Five police commander requesting additional police patrols for areas around Phillip Avenue and Smith Road, Springvale.
She said a spate of deliberately lit fires on paper bark trees has not relented, continuing the nightmare for residents.
A report in the Star (2 March) outlined the plight of Phillip Avenue resident Domenic Pugliese whose family evacuated its home one night in terror, under the belief it was on fire.
He later found it was a tree outside ablaze blowing hot embers onto the roof.
This week Cr Sampey said she received a complaint from a resident whose young child was not sleeping in his room and who was throwing-up constantly following the fires.
Springvale North Ward councillor Alan Gordon said he was approached at an athletics meet in Springvale last weekend by residents who were plagued by the fires, demanding something be done.
The motion was passed by councillors and correspondence between the council and the police is expected to take place immediately.