About 8.00am on Saturday 9 April, NSW Fire and Rescue and Police attended Tweed Valley Way, South Murwillumbah, a short distance south of the train station, after receiving information that a gas cylinder had been deliberately set on fire.
A 56kg industrial gas cylinder was located on the train tracks, and attempts had been made to set it on fire overnight.
Fortunately the cylinder had not exploded but as a precaution Fire and Rescue treated it as a HAZMAT incident, police evacuated nearby residents, and traffic diversions were put in place.
When Fire and Rescue assessed the cylinder again at 2.00pm it was deemed stable and the evacuations and diversions were terminated
Police say the dangerous act could have had fatal consequences if the cylinder had exploded.
They are calling for anyone who has any information in relation to the incident, please contact Crime Stoppers.
