Arabic version: مراهق من بيرث يتلقى حكماً مع وقف التنفيذ بسبب حريق أحراش في رأس السنة

According to ABC News, Luke Grguric, 19, has received an eight-month suspended prison term after a homemade firecracker triggered an out-of-control bushfire in Perth Hills on New Year’s Day.

The District Court heard Grguric threw a device made from matches and cardboard into bushland on Temby Avenue in Kalamunda shortly after watching New Year’s Eve fireworks on television. He recorded the incident, but the device started a fire rather than exploding as he expected.

Grguric panicked and unsuccessfully tried to stamp out the flames before alerting neighbours and emergency services. The fire reached emergency level in the Kalamunda-Maida Vale area before later being downgraded.

Many properties were evacuated, about 160 emergency personnel responded, around 25 hectares of native vegetation was destroyed and 2,000 homes lost power. Grguric had pleaded guilty to failing to ensure a fire or ignition source would not cause an uncontrollable fire.

Judge Martin Flynn called the matter a serious breach of duty, while saying Grguric acted appropriately after the fire began. Defence lawyer Alex Smith said his client was not a pyromaniac, describing the event as isolated, foolish, reckless and accidental. The court heard Grguric was mortified by the incident.