Four teenagers arrested over Cessnock McDonald’s Fire

Four teenagers have been charged over allegedly lighting a blaze at a fast food restaurant in the Hunter at the weekend.

About 3.30am on Sunday (19 July 2020), emergency services were called to a fast food restaurant on Allandale Road, Cessnock, after reports of a fire within the external playground area.

Crews from Fire and Rescue NSW extinguished the flames a short time later.

Officers from Hunter Valley Police District commenced an investigation into the cause of the blaze.

Following extensive inquiries, about 9am yesterday (Thursday 23 July 2020), police attended a high school in Cessnock, and arrested a 15-year-old boy.

Then about 2.40pm, officers attended another high school in Cessnock, where they arrested a 14-year-old boy.

Later that evening, two teenage girls – aged 16 and 17 – attended Cessnock Police Station where they were both arrested.

All four teenagers were charged with damage property by fire and were all granted conditional bail to appear at a children’s court on Monday 11 August 2020.

Inquiries are continuing into the incident.^