Name: Two boys suspected of lighting Balmoral fires
Uploaded: 2025-12-09T11:38:50.063Z
Duration: 1 min 7 s
Description: Two boys, aged 12 and 13, were taken into custody, suspected of starting a bushfire that endangered homes in north-west Sydney. They were released without charge under the Young Offenders Act.

Two boys, aged 12 and 13, were taken into custody, suspected of starting a bushfire that endangered homes in north-west Sydney. They were released without charge under the Young Offenders Act.

Balmoral

Authorities in Balmoral, New South Wales, took two boys aged 12 and 13 into custody after a bushfire threatened several homes. The boys were questioned at Castle Hill Police Station regarding the fire's origins but were released without charge under the Young Offenders Act.

The fire, which ignited around 2pm, came close to residential properties but was quickly brought under control by fire crews, preventing injuries and property loss. This incident was one of several bushfires across New South Wales, with residents in Lithgow temporarily ordered to evacuate as another blaze reached emergency level before being downgraded.

Two boys suspected of lighting Balmoral fires

Two young boys, aged just 12 and 13, have been taken into custody after a bushfire threatened multiple homes in cities north-west this afternoon. For more on this, Taylor Ryan joins me now in Teller. These two young boys were arrested not far from the fire ground. It is alarming, Urs, but yes, two boys, aged just 12 and 13, they were taken to Castle Hill Police Station this afternoon where they faced some serious questions about the origins of this fire. However, they've now been released without charge under the Young Offenders Act. You can see though from these photos just how close the blaze came to homes when it ignited at around 2pm today. No one was injured, nor were any homes lost during this incident. That was thanks to fire crews who quickly brought the blaze under control. Now, that was just one of several fires burning across New South Wales today. Residents in Lithgow in the state's Central Tablelands were ordered to leave when that blaze was upgraded to emergency level. Now, it was later downgraded back to a watch and act, but crews are still working to get it under control, Ursula.

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