Mysterious Fires Spark Panic Over ‘Street Bounty’ in Sydney Suburb
Quiet suburb rocked by afternoon arson spree
A quiet Sydney suburb has been shaken by a series of mysterious fires that erupted over a single afternoon, targeting items placed on the street for giveaway or council pickup. Leichhardt, located in the city’s Inner West, saw an alarming wave of arson incidents as locals reported multiple blazes involving donated furniture and rubbish left out for collection.
Common giveaways turned targets
Residents had posted in a local community group about items commonly shared as “street bounty”—such as a couch, mattress, and several boxes—being deliberately set on fire. It’s believed that up to three separate incidents took place on Sunday, raising concerns among locals and emergency services alike.
Community issues urgent warning
One local woman issued a warning to her neighbors: “Anyone with things outside their house as bounty or council pick up items: beware, I just had some small items set alight outside my house in Leichhardt,” she wrote. “The fire brigade was called and they said it was the 3rd one this afternoon.”
Fires spreading across streets
Another resident added, “Then another pile of things was (sic) alight around the corner.” Reports suggest these were not isolated events, as social media posts and eyewitness accounts began to paint a broader picture of the afternoon’s chaos.
Authorities suspect deliberate acts
A Fire and Rescue NSW spokesperson confirmed there was no definitive information on how the fires were started, though the most likely cause was deliberate. Firefighters responded to the first blaze just after 3.40pm, where a lounge on the roadside of Percival Street had been ignited. A nearby vehicle sustained heat damage from the flames.
Firefighters race between sites
About an hour later, emergency crews were called to Albert Street for a rubbish fire at 4.30pm, followed shortly after by another on National Street at 4.50pm.
Police investigate suspicious pattern
Police attended each location to determine whether the blazes were suspicious, while numerous residents came forward recounting similar scenes throughout the day. “I walked past a house tonight where someone had set alight the council pickup,” one local wrote. “The homeowners had just arrived home to find it.”
Residents share eyewitness accounts
Another person added, “We saw some boxes alight this afternoon after soccer on MacKenzie Street.” Fires continued popping up in different locations, including one involving a bag of items burning at the park on Elswick and William Street, and another mattress fire seen near the footpath of Hill Street and Balmain Road.
Fires spotted across multiple intersections
One more report read: “Dumped office chair and a bag of junk set alight on corner Albert/Elswick this afternoon.” Emergency crews worked swiftly to control the blazes, with one witness stating: “The Firies said they had just put out another similar fire and there were more yesterday.”
Community stunned by senseless destruction
The events left many in the community shocked and disappointed, especially considering that most of the items were put out in goodwill as part of local donation or recycling initiatives. Still, some attempted to inject humor into the tense situation. One post read: “Someone’s been arson around.”
Reminder to stay vigilant with donations
This bizarre outbreak of fires serves as a reminder to residents about being cautious when leaving items outside, even for charitable purposes. Authorities continue to investigate the pattern of suspicious fires as locals remain on edge, watching what was once a friendly tradition turn into a cause for concern.
