Detectives have been sent from Melbourne to inquire into the origin of the fire at Dromana, where 40 houses were destroyed, and of the fire at Toolangi, where two forest officers were burnt to death.

At every other centre where serious fires have occurred, the police are investigating.

...‘Whenever there is any chance of getting evidence of bush fires having resulted from deliberate fire lighting or from carelessness, we will not hesitate to prosecute,’ said Superintendent J Green. ‘Such criminal action invariably leads to loss of life and of valuable property and the destruction of beautiful mountain forest.’...

The chief of the detective force (Supt Deeley) has offered Supt. Green every assistance in discovering the origin of the fires.

‘No effort will be spared to track down those responsible,’ he said.

Already the police have certain evidence about the origin of some of the fires.

[WT, 14/1/39]

Six main fires were causing anxiety in the eastern half of Victoria on Tuesday. All of them were so serious that there appeared to be practically no hope of controlling them if windy conditions developed.

[WT, 14/1/39]