A 33-year-old woman has been charged with multiple offenses, including arson, following a series of fires in the Yeppoon area on March 7, 2024. Emergency services responded to three separate incidents that morning, beginning at approximately 3:15 a.m. when they were alerted to a fire at a business on Normanby Street.
Shortly after, at 3:45 a.m., another fire was reported at a business located on Cliff Street. The third fire occurred at around 4:36 a.m. on John Street. Firefighters managed to extinguish all blazes promptly, preventing further damage or injury.
Following their investigation, police took the woman into custody, charging her with seven counts of wilful damage, two counts of arson, one count of entering premises and committing an indictable offense by break, one count of attempted stealing, and one count of endangering particular property by fire.
The accused has been remanded in custody and is scheduled to appear in the Rockhampton Magistrates Court on March 9, 2024. The police have not disclosed the woman’s identity, citing her lack of a fixed address.
The authorities are continuing their investigation into the incidents, seeking to determine the full circumstances surrounding the fires. Local residents and business owners expressed concern over the incidents, highlighting the need for vigilance in the community.
Police encourage anyone with information related to the fires to come forward, emphasizing the importance of community cooperation in addressing such incidents.
