Arsonists strike again

Eyewitnesses, including Neighbourhood Watch member Oscar Darmenia, reported several residents assembled with their garden hoses in hand to put out the blaze.

“I just turned around and saw smoke,” Mr Darmenia said.

“I came out, and kids were running everywhere.

“Everyone came out with their hoses. It was all a mad rush.”

Cobram police and CFA units arrived to find the front yard of a house and a tree on its nature strip scorched.

It’s not the first time such an incident has occurred in the area, according to Mr Darmenia, who said another tree further along the nature strip went up in flames about three years ago.

“We’ve been here 32 years, and seen a lot change,” he said.

Police are treating the incident as suspicious.

Nobody was reported injured during the brief blaze, and police investigations are continuing.