Translate
A 40-year-old man has been charged after allegedly lighting a fire in the Gungahlin Joint Emergency Services Centre yesterday afternoon.
About 5pm (Thursday, 22 January 2026), the man entered the foyer of the Gungahlin Joint Emergency Services Centre with a jerry can and allegedly poured petrol onto the floor before throwing the jerry can into the building.
He then allegedly lit the petrol with a lighter before fleeing in a vehicle.
The fire was extinguished by police and ACT Fire and Rescue. No members of the public were in the station at the time and no one was injured during the incident.
A review of CCTV footage identified the man and at about 9:40pm, police located him at a residence in Franklin where he was arrested.
He will face the ACT Magistrates Court today (Friday, 23 January 2026), charged with arson and acts endangering life.
Gungahlin Police Station remains operational however the community in Canberra’s north who need to attend a police station are asked to attend Belconnen or City Police Stations while repair works are underway.