By Casey Neill
Cricketers played on as fire burned just metres away in Coomoora Reserve – and not for the first time.
Police said it appeared a firebug used matches to ignite a clump of grass in the Springvale South parkland, about 1.15pm, on Saturday 18 February.
The fire burned through about 50 metres by 50 metres of grassland, spreading quickly in windy conditions, and took firefighters an hour to bring under control.
An arson chemist determined it was deliberately lit and started near the bike track that runs alongside the Dandenong Bypass.
Coomoora Cricket Club continued to play two games at the reserve as the fire burned.
“The games came close to being slightly delayed due to the large amount of smoke billowing across the field, but luckily it was contained before being deemed unsafe,” a club spokesman said.
“It’s not the first time the bush has caught fire during cricket games.
“It also happened about 12 years ago.”
Police appealed for any witnesses to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
