Frederick L. Davis: 76-year-old pleads guilty to sparking Walpole-Nornalup National Park bushfire near Denmark

A 76-year-old man who sparked a bushfire while helping to clean up a south coast property during a total fire ban last month has pleaded guilty in his first court appearance. Representing himself in Albany Magistrates Court on Thursday, Frederick L. Davis pleaded guilty to failing to reasonably ensure that a fire or ignition source did or would not cause a fire that could not be controlled. Davis confirmed he had sought legal advice and wanted to enter a “very early plea of guilty” — a move Magistrate Erin O’Donnell described as “uncommon”. The charge is indictable and has a maximum term of 15 years imprisonment. Davis was helping tidy up a rural property in Bow Bridge, about 30km west of Denmark, when he set fire to a small pile of leaves and vegetation at about 2.45pm on January 2. The fire, bolstered by strong winds and temperatures ranging from 32C to 34C, quickly spread and jumped a nearby river, leading to bushfire advice being issued at 4.05pm, which was upgraded to watch and act at 3.49am on January 3. It was downgraded to advice at 6.01am where it stayed until 8.51am on January 8. A total fire ban was in place on the day and Davis did not have permission to light the fire, which burnt over 300ha of the Walpole-Nornalup National Park and placed properties at risk. During his court appearance, Davis said he admitted fault for the fire on the day and when he was interviewed by officers from Strike Force Vulcan in Perth. Davis said he was “absolutely certain” in entering a plea of guilty and said he did not find any presentence reports necessary. He will find out his sentencing date when he appears in Albany District Court on May 7.