Allegedly mentally unfit Bunbury woman sets fire to Seacrest Shopping Centre toilet paper roll in Wandina

Police were called to a deliberately lit fire inside a Wandina shopping centre, after an allegedly mentally unfit woman set fire to a toilet roll in the female toilet block on Tuesday night. About 7.30pm on Tuesday, police say a 32-year-old woman from Bunbury entered Seacrest Shopping Centre and walked into the toilet adjacent to Woolworths. Geraldton police officer-in-charge Senior Sergeant Chris Martin said the woman allegedly set fire to a toilet paper roll inside a cubicle, causing a significant blaze and then left. “This has caused a significant amount of smoke and the metal holder to melt, rendering it inoperable,” he said. Sen. Sgt Martin said the store was open to the public at the time with limited customers inside. He said staff were still working the night shift and the fire resulted in the shopping centre to be evacuated. “The soot and smoke from the fire went throughout the toilet and into the main supermarket. The shop had to be evacuated as a result of the excess smoke,” he said. “The suspect was captured on CCTV and later traced by police at the Geraldton Regional Hospital.” Sen Sgt Martin said he would allege the female suspect was displaying “mental cognitive issues” and required further hospital examination before charges could be laid. He said investigations would continue when the 32-year-old was in more “sound cognitive nature”. “(The suspect) was subsequently detained under the Mental Health Act and transported to Graylands for a full mental health assessment before any further police investigation,” he said. Sen. Sgt Martin said Department of Fire and Emergency Services attended and determined the fire had been deliberately lit. A DFES spokesperson said Geraldton Fire Rescue Services attended with a light tanker and urban pump heavy rescue appliance, and Geraldton Volunteer Fire and Rescue Services sent a light tanker and country pump, containing the fire by 8.12pm. “There was minor flame damage and considerable smoke damage,” he said. Police estimate the cost of damage to be at least $20,000.