Four men have been arrested and charged over a series of fires at party hire businesses in Wyndham, Brimbank and other areas of metropolitan Melbourne.
Police will allege the men used Molotov cocktails, and in one instance a petrol accelerant, to set off 11 fires and attempt to light others at party hire premises at Werribee, Hoppers Crossing, Tullamarine, Hallam, Warragul, Keysborough and Kangaroo Ground between December 20 last year and March 6 this year.
The total damage bill amounted to more than $2 million.
Among the businesses targeted was A&A Jumping Castles at Hoppers Crossing, which was gutted by fire in the early hours of January 12.
Wyndham crime investigation unit detectives arrested four people in relation to the spate of fires.
Senior Sergeant Matt Noy said three of the men had made full admissions to a number of fires, while the other had not.
A 52-year-old Kangaroo Ground man has been charged with 11 counts of arson, a 30-year-old Kurunjang man was charged with 10 counts of arson, a 33-year-old Greensborough man has been charged with four counts of arson and a 36-year-old Kalorama man was charged with two counts of arson.
All four men have fronted the court for filing hearings and were released on bail. Three of the men will front Melbourne Magistrates Court on June 7.
