A teenager has faced Wyong Children’s Court on Wednesday charged with arson offences, after allegedly lighting a fire which destroyed a number of shops at the Umina Mall earlier this year.
Around 60 firefighters responded to the blaze on January 13, which started in a barber shop on Ocean Beach Road in the early hours of the morning.
The fierce fire caused several million dollars’ worth of damage.
New South Wales Fire & Rescue Inspector Bob Barton praised fire-fighters for their efforts but said the unusual building materials made it difficult to contain the blaze
“Unfortunately there was some straw insulation that ran right through the strip mall and covered another six to seven shops and the fire got into the insulation and spread right across the ceiling.”
“There was no compartmentation. Normally it will be bricked off so the fire can’t spread but this wasn’t the case. It’s not common to see the straw,” Insp Barton said.
Initial inquiries suggested the fire was deliberately lit using an accelerant, with officers from the Brisbane Water Police District quickly establishing a crime scene.
The site was examined by forensic officers, leading to the arrest of a 17-year-old boy yesterday afternoon.
He was charged with damage property by fire and refused bail to reappear via video link in November.
Investigations into the circumstances surrounding the fire are continuing.
