this is the real problem faces with bush fires "half the 54,000 bushfires that hit Australia on average each year are deliberately lit or suspicious."
(AND nothing about CCC.......... climate change crap)
Cops and arson unit round up two dozen alleged firestarters in NSW
NSW Police have caught 24 alleged firebugs accused of deliberately lighting bushfires in a catastrophic season that has so far killed 18 people in the state.
Almost five million hectares have burned in NSW since September, destroying 1482 homes and killing hundreds of millions of animals and livestock.
Two dozen people have allegedly risked prison sentences of up to 25 years by choosing to light bushfires, despite the potential to kill and cause millions of dollars of damage.
Strike Force Tronto, made up of detectives from the Financial Crimes Squad's Arson Unit, have been working closely with local police forces to catch arsonists.
Today the NSW Police confirmed 24 people had been charged over alleged deliberately-lit bushfires.
A further 53 people faced legal action for allegedly failing to comply with a total fire ban.
Police urge people to provide footage and images from phones, dashcam or other devices that show any of fires in their infancy, even if only from a distance.
What kind of person deliberately starts a bushfire?
Most international studies have settled on a typical profile: White male, mid-20s, patchy employment record, often above average intelligence but poor academic achievement and stunted social development.
It's a disturbingly common crime, with estimates up to half the 54,000 bushfires that hit Australia on average each year are deliberately lit or suspicious.
According to a 2004 Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC) report, many arsonists are loners and suffer from mental illness.
FBI criminal profilers believe arsonists fall into three categories, defined by motivation: thrill-seekers, attention-seekers and those chasing recognition.
Arsonists driven by the need for recognition will often report the fire or be actively involved in fighting the fire.
It is not uncommon for attention and recognition seekers to stay and admire their work, while thrill-seekers are typically opportunists and likely to flee the scene.
