A pair of teenagers have been detained by members of the public before being arrested by police, after they were seen leaving the scene where a fire took hold in Port Stephens yesterday.
About 1 o’clock on Saturday afternoon, a bushfire broke out in Lighthouse Reserve on Shoal Bay peninsular.
Nearby bystanders detained two 16-year-old boys who were seen moving away from the location of the fire.
Fire crews attended and extinguished the blaze, which burnt out about an acre of bushland.
Police reported to the scene and arrested the two boys. It was determined the boys had lit a camp fire during a total fire ban which subsequently spread out of control.
It is not believed they had malicious intent.
The boys will be subject to a Youth Justice Conference under the Young Offenders Act.
