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Source: ONE News -
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Victorian police will offer a $100,000 reward to catch those responsible for lighting the devastating Delburn Complex bushfires in Gippsland.
Details of the reward are expected to be announced on Tuesday, the Herald Sun newspaper said, as firefighters continue to battle the 6,400-hectare blaze that has so far destroyed 30 houses, 79 sheds, five cars, a truck and a piggery near the towns of Boolarra, Yinnar and Mirboo North.
Police believe the fires that hit several towns in Gippsland
over the weekend were deliberately lit and suspect arsonists
started even more blazes as firefighters battled to save lives and
home.
Victorian premier John Brumby said a huge police presence was on
the fireground, determined to catch the firebugs who would face the
toughest arson penalties in Australia.
"There is no more ... cowardly, destructive act, no more anti-social act, than deliberately lighting a fire to threaten property and threaten people," the premier said.
"And I can tell you that every single resource is being thrown at this to catch the person or persons responsible.
"There's no sympathy that anybody's got for firebugs. We want to crack down on them ... and I know police are doing everything they can to get on top of this."
Arsonists now face up to 15 years in jail, increased from two years, and 25 years for fires that claim lives.
The East Gippsland bushfires have also claimed 79 sheds, five cars, a truck and a piggery near the townships of Boolarra, Yinnar and Mirboo North.
It was expected the Delburn Complex fires would be contained on Tuesday.
In all, 21 fires are burning out of control.
Most are in Victoria's east, small, and were sparked by lightning on Monday.
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