From The Australian:-

A suspected arsonist has been arrested after he was seen acting suspiciously by the crew of an army Black Hawk helicopter who chased him through Sydney’s Royal National Park.

The 6th Aviation Regiment unit was returning to Holsworthy base after helping in the bushfire effort in the Blue Mountains when they saw a man acting suspiciously, The Daily Telegraph reports.

The crew alerted police and kept the man in sight, flying low over bushland to find his hiding place. He was arrested late on Wednesday.

Excellent work from all who were involved.

Hmm in reality there are plenty to take his place from kids doing silly things to extremists looking for a headline ! Sydney has bush everywhere.
Pete

There will always be stupid people, that is for sure. I'd say the first thing that drew the Army's attention to the individual would have been memories of 1994, in which the Royal National Park was pretty much wiped out and was the first fire of many to come at the time. This area isn't an easy one to get out of either. Sir Bertram Stevens Drive is a bottleneck at the best of times and traffic coming and going from the Audley Weir is also bedlam especially at this time of the year, because even though it is close to the Princes Highway, it is where many of the car parks are. If everyone needed to bail once a fire starts, it may be that not everyone is going to get out in time.

The temperature will rise again next week, so national park closures will hopefully protect them from society's nutters.

I say that these idiots receive a hefty fine, plus being liable for the cost of fighting the fire, plus liable for the complete replacement cost of everything that was burnt. Additionally, if anyone died, the firebug should also be charged with murder. Show no mercy.

From News.com:

A man allegedly trying to light a bushfire south of Sydney was caught when police stumbled onto him while rescuing a paraglider stuck in a tree.

Officers from Wollongong Police District and the Rescue Squad were deployed to help a 61-year-old man who had crashed into a tree at Balgownie around 2pm yesterday.

The paraglider, who was not seriously injured, was being rescued when officers on the scene smelled smoke around 5.30pm.

They searched nearby bushland on foot for the cause of the fire, and saw a 20-year-old man fanning flames.

He was arrested on the spot and taken to Wollongong Police Station where he was charged with setting fire to property.

The alleged arsonist was granted strict conditional bail and is due to appear in Wollongong Local Court on December 3.

Caught red-handed and given police bail? Unbelievable!

I say that these idiots receive a hefty fine

Mandatory imprisonment for arsonists with compulsory head shrinking while inside.

I wonder what the "strict" bail conditions were? Obeying mummy's advice about not playing with matches?

I heard today that the NSW Government has increased the penalty for arson from 14 to 21 years in gaol with a mandatory minimum of 9 years non-parole. All we need now is the courts to recognise the community's expectations that these sentences will be handed down, as courts do have the power to hand down a shorter time than nine years because it isn't strictly a mandatory sentence.

They should not only go to gaol for a long time but they should be tied up and whipped too. And, to raise money for the RFS the floggings should be carried out in public with the audience giving gold coin donations on entry. I'd donate $50 to see it happen.

they should be tied up and whipped

My old man used to say: "Tie them up to a tree just ahead of the fire-front, so they get a good view of their work."

Not a bad idea.

Just as bad are people who are opportunistic in times like this to other people's disadvantage. Just these last few days there were reports a couple of blokes wearing similar clothing to the firies, going round a few homes within the district I live in on the Mid North Coast, urging people to evacuate their homes. They then would take advantage to ransack the vacant homes once the residents leave. Fortunately Police got wind of this and told the residents it was a hoax.

Another case, some idiot or idiots stole petrol powered pumps from a business in town. Either it was for their own use or to offload to others in need with a financial benefit.

I think these individuals should also be treated like what GTC has mentioned i.e. tied up to a tree in front of a fire.

Bushman

That is often called looting and yes, they should be treated as harshly as possible. They are lower than those who start the fires.

They are lower than those who start the fires.

Possibly the same people.

Looters should be shot on sight.

Sorry bud. You lit a fire? No more welfare for you. EVER. And you must pay back the cost of the fire every week until you die

IMO there needs to be a national register of convicted arsonists. I have heard where police will door-knock known local offenders ahead of fire season just to remind them that they are still on their radar.

I have heard where police will door-knock known local offenders ahead of fire season just to remind them that they are still on their radar.

That has been happening. It's the opposite of the old "don't leave town" scenario where the police have been telling known offenders not to even be seen near bushland. I imagine that this would be difficult to achieve if an offender lives in a one-horse town but I suppose that is their problem.