About 8pm on Tuesday, police from Oxley Local Area Command were informed local fire fighters had earlier attended a paddock on Garthowen Road after reports of a fire.

It appears the landowner allegedly lit a number of fires on the land for the purpose of burning off and clearing rubbish at the property.

The Attunga Rural Fire Service attended and extinguished the blaze. The local police were informed and investigations commenced.

Officers subsequently interviewed a 37-year-old man regarding the matter.

He was issued with three infringements under the Rural Fire Act for the offences of lighting fire in a total fire ban, fail to give notification and light fire in bush fire danger period without a permit.

The fines total $2200.

Strike Force Tronto continues to co-ordinate the investigative response to deliberately-lit bushfires, with detectives from Property Crime Squad’s Arson Unit working closely with local police.

As part of Strike Force Tronto, police are continuing to overtly and covertly target known or suspected bushfire arsonists in their communities, and officers also work in close consultation with investigators from the Rural Fire Service and Fire & Rescue NSW.

Police urge the community to assist them by reporting any suspicious behaviour