THREE consecutive nights of fires in Denman have created a quiet outrage in the usually close-knit community – and locals are understandably a little on edge.
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On Saturday night, a house on the corner of Paxton and Turtle streets was completely ruined by fire.
The following night there were two grass fires in close proximity to each other, one on the western side of the Kenilworth Street railway crossing and one in a vacant block on Martindale Street, which crept under a fence and burnt the gardens of the neighbouring house.
On Monday night there was a second fire back at the Paxton/Turtle street residence in the greenhouse.
Hunter Valley Police District acting crime manager Ian Wright said the house fire was still being treated as suspicious.
“Inquiries are continuing and we strongly urge anyone with information to contact police, if they want to remain anonymous they can do so via Crime Stoppers,” Detective Sergeant Wright said.
He said police were particularly concerned considering it was bushfire season, with dry, hot weather and winds and the combined risk that posed to the general community.
“At this time of year there’s real potential for a fire to escalate into something really serious,” he added.
Detective Sergeant Wright said police needed to know where crime was happening in order to deploy officers.
“It’s important for people to report crime so we can target it,” he said.
“We need the community’s help, a lot of crime in small towns goes unreported but we need to know how and where it’s happening.”
The possibility of establishing a Neighbourhood Watch group to try and decrease the incidence of crime has been touted.
To contact Crime Stoppers, phone 1800 333 000.
