Bushfire call released by police

It is the triple-zero call that alerted authorities to yet another deliberately-lit bushfire tearing through the NSW Blue Mountains. And now police hope it will spark a breakthrough in their hunt for the arsonist responsible. The short recording, which detectives released on Wednesday, features a young-sounding man who gives details of the October 24 blaze which destroyed 19 hectares of bush, a garden shed and damaged homes near Cliff Drive. 'Whereabouts is the fire?' a triple zero operator is heard asking the man. 'Cliff Drive, if you come to the old kiosk opposite the caravan park you'll see the smoke ...' he replies. 'Opposite the old kiosk which is closed down, which is opposite the caravan park.' Detective Superintendent Greig Newbery urged the caller to come forward, saying he may hold important information about the case. 'The male caller phoned triple zero about 1.35pm and was able to direct emergency services to the blaze, but he did not provide any personal details to call centre staff,' Det Supt Newbery said in a statement on Thursday. 'We believe this person could provide us with further details important to the investigation and we appeal for him to make contact with police. 'He is possibly one of the first people to have come across the fire and we need to talk to him to find out what he saw and heard that day.' The October 24 fire was one of a number which tore through the Blue Mountains in September and October, several of which are believed to have been deliberately lit. Det Supt Newbery urged anyone with information about the fire, who has not already spoken with police, to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.