BY GEORGIA LUPTON
A probationary member of the Rural Fire Service has pleaded guilty to a number of offences relating to deliberately lit fires around the Hunter.
21-year-old Alex Forth of Aberglasslyn faced court yesterday after being charged with four counts of intentionally cause fire and be reckless as to its spread, and making false call to emergency service number.
The volunteer firefighter, a member of the Lochinvar brigade, lit fires within its patrol area including places such as Sawyers Gully, Lochinvar, Keinbah and Bishops Bridge.
The court heard the 21-year-old lit the fires using ammunition including molotov cocktails to be called out to fight the fires, curing his boredom.
It was heard other members of the brigade became suspicious of Forth due to a "significant spike" in the amount of fires shortly after he joined the brigade.
Suspicions grew further when Forth mentioned a fire before it was reported to other members and on another occasion, arrived at the fire station within minutes of the Rural Fire Service being notified of the fire.
The court heard on some occasions, the 21-year-old would even call emergency services to report fires he had lit.
He was arrested at the Lochinvar Fire Station on 28th of April this year.
The accused will be sentenced in Newcastle District Court next year.
