Australian police charge cop over forest fire catastrophe (Roundup)

Feb 9, 2011, 9:35 GMT

Sydney - Police in Western Australia on Wednesday charged a police officer whose alleged carelessness caused the weekend forest fire on Perth's outskirts that razed 72 houses and damaged 32 others.

Robert James Stevens, 57, allegedly was using an angle grinder in his yard Sunday in contravention of a total fire ban that bars the use of power tools outdoors.

Sparks from the angle grinder ignited the fire.

Stevens, who has gone missing, was off duty at the time of an offence that sources said he reported himself.

'I believe he's just shattered and devastated and he's probably just taking time out to reflect on a few things,' police spokesman Inspector Bill Munnee told Australia's AAP news agency when explaining the disappearance.

Stevens was charged on summons, which means police were unable to meet him and give him a copy of the charge sheet.

Under the Bushfires Act, he could be fined 25,000 Australian dollars (25,000 US dollars) or jailed for a year if found guilty of carrying out an activity likely to cause a fire.

The arson squad visited his home, which escaped damage, and took away evidence.

Susan McWatters, who lost her home in the fire, said she hoped her neighbour would not be charged.

'I'm sure that man's conscience is really worrying him today,' she told the West Australian newspaper before the news that Stevens had been charged.

'I'm sure he didn't go out deliberately to burn everyone's home down. It was just one of those accidents.'

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