Hunter Valley fires: TikTok video emerges of volunteer firefighter Jack Hardidge, 18, charged with lighting ferocious blazes
A baby-faced volunteer firefighter who was accused of deliberately starting fires before helping to put them out with his colleagues released video of a blaze just months before the alleged violations occurred and shortly after he lost his mother.
Jack Hardidge, 18, was arrested Wednesday morning by Arson Unit detectives who later charged him with 15 counts, including 13 counts of deliberately causing a fire and being reckless in relation to its spread, and two counts of destroying property worth of $2,000.
Police will allege in court that in July and August this year, Hardidge deliberately started fires in grassland at several locations in the Hunter Valley, including Weston, Pelaw Main, Bellbird, Greta, Aberglasslyn, Melville and Cessnock.
Jack Hardidge (pictured), 18, was arrested Wednesday morning by Arson Unit detectives who later charged him with 15 offences, including 13 counts of deliberately causing a fire and being reckless in relation to its spread, and two counts of destroying property valued at $2,000
It will further be alleged that the man later attended some of the fires as a NSW RFS volunteer and helped put them out.
Now Daily Mail Australia can reveal that in May Hardidge shared a video on TikTok that appears to glorify firefighting shortly after his mother died in March.
The video opens with an intense crescendo to the drum beat and opens with the quoted caption “Firefighting is boring” next to a shot of Hardidge posing with his thumbs up in his firefighter gear, with smoke behind him.
“Not to me,” the caption replies as the camera pans to rows of flame engulfing trees and bushes as smoke billows into the air.
The teenager, who volunteers at the Maitland Vale/Luskintyre with the NSW Rural Fire Service, captioned the video with ‘love it’.
The teenager (so-called) is a Maitland Vale/Luskintyre volunteer with the NSW Rural Fire Service
Hardidge is pictured with his mother Jennifer, who passed away in March this year at the age of 41
Hardidge’s social media pages illustrate his love for his volunteer role, with action shots of him uncoiling a hose and shots of him grinning in front of a NSW Rural Fire Service centre.
Daily Mail Australia can also reveal that Hardidge lost his mother, Jennifer, in March this year.
The mother of four, who died aged 41, was described by her son as his “dearest supporter and my best friend.”
Arson Unit detectives arrived at Hardidge’s Hunter Valley home around 8:20 a.m. Wednesday.
He was arrested and led away by handcuffed officers to Maitland Police Station, where he was charged with 15 counts of felony allegedly setting fire intentionally.
Hardidge, who was barefoot and wearing a McDonald’s sweater at the time of his arrest, was denied bail to appear in Maitland’s local court later today.
The young man (pictured), who was barefoot and wearing a McDonald’s sweater at the time of his arrest, was denied bail today to appear in Maitland’s local court.
The commander of the Financial Crimes Squad, Acting Superintendent Richard Puffett, said that, as bushfire season approaches in NSW, his team is committed to investigating fires suspected of being suspicious or known to have been started deliberately.
“Our state has seen several years of extreme weather, from floods to fires — and the coming months will only get warmer,” said Det Acting Supt Puffett.
“With a large amount of dry vegetation in our state, we are urging the public to be vigilant during this year’s wildfire season.
If you see or notice anything suspicious, please contact the police.
“Forest fires can not only be harmful, they can also be deadly.”