UPDATE 6pm: Police have confirmed they are investigating 11 fires in the Eaglehawk area.
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The most recent was a fire at St Liborius Primary School on Eaglehawk Road about 7.20am today.
Police are investigating fires at the following locations:
Rubbish bin at railway station on Hall Street Tuesday 26 January about 9.40pm; Grass fire on Hall Street Wednesday 27 January about 1.20am; Grass fire on Napier Street Wednesday 27 January about 1.20am; Grass fire on Panton Street Wednesday 27 January about 1.20am; Business on Market Street Tuesday 2 February about 2.35am;
Sporting clubrooms on Victoria Street Thursday 4 February about 4am; Grass fire on Caldwells Road Saturday 6 February about 6.40am; Sporting club rooms on Victoria Street Saturday 6 February about 6.50am; Business on Market Street Saturday 6 February about 7.15am; Business on Market Street Monday 8 February about 2.29am.
Anyone with information should phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
EARLIER: POLICE say information from the public could put an end to a spate of fires in Eaglehawk.
Seven fires have occurred in the town since February 2 – three near the Eaglehawk Railway Station, two at Albert Roy Reserve, one in grass on Caldwells Road and, the latest, at St Liborius Primary School on Tuesday.
RELATED: Arson experts called in
Senior Sergeant Craig Gaffee said police were confident that members of the public had information about the fires that could lead to an arrest.
“We’re investigating all the fires and whether there’s a connection,” he said.
“We’re very confident that there are people out there in the community who know who’s doing this.
“We’re asking them to come forward and provide information.”
Mr Gaffee said assistance from the public often helped solve cases, so police urged anyone with information – however small – to come forward.
“Quite often a couple of little bits of information added together with other small bits of information complete the jigsaw.
“We’re just asking the community for any information – even if they think it is small or not important – to contact Crime Stoppers.”
Information, he said, could be submitted anonymously.
Mr Gaffee said police were investigating the fires collectively and had not ruled out anything.
“Like the rest of the Eaglehawk community, we’re very concerned and want to put a stop to them,” he said.
“Detectives are working hard with CFA fire investigators.”
Although no one had come to physical harm as a result of the fires so far, each new incident brought with it a risk to members of the public and to perpetrators, Mr Gaffee said.
A recent example of the public helping to end a crime spree in Bendigo was when information provided to police led to the arrest of a suspect over a series of armed hold-ups at post offices, Mr Gaffee said.
The hold-ups occurred between October 2014 and January 2015.
“The reality is that a lot of crimes are solved from information from the public,” Mr Gaffee said.
Police initially said two of the early fires – including one that destroyed baseball clubrooms at Albert Roy Reserve – were an accident.
Anyone with information about the fires in Eaglehawk can call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or Bendigo Police on 5448 1300.