A 39-year-old Coraki man will appear in court next month charged with lighting two fires and assaulting a police officer.
Police and the Rural fire Service were kept busy last night with the two fires in Coraki that resulted in a large amount of damage and the arrest of the man.
Police will allege that Coraki man was on the Coraki-Lismore road about 4:30pm on Tuesday.
‘At this time he has walked into the cane with a cigarette lighter ignited the cane along the road side in several places,’ police said.
‘The accused has then continued to walk north towards Lismore.’
Coraki Police and the Wyrallah RFS attended, but could not stop the fire.
Backburning took place in order to save the rest of the property and to stop the fire crossing the road. About 15 acres of sugarcane was lost.
About 6.15 the same man has walked along Coraki road and started another fire in the sugarcane.
Coraki Police, Wyrallah RFS and Fire and Rescue attended again.
The man was witnessed lighting a fire by a witness who called 000.
Police attempted to stop the man a short distance away but he refused to stop.
He suddenly turned on police and assaulted a Senior Constable.
He was placed under arrest and taken to Lismore police station where he was charged with Malicious Damage by Fire (more than $15,000), Malicious Damage by Fire (Less than $15,000) and Assault Police.
He was released on strict conditional bail and will face Lismore Local Court next month.
