Update:
Four men, who described themselves as “bushfire hunters”, have been cleared of responsibility in starting the blaze that threatened hundreds of Sutherland Shire homes on the weekend.
The men, aged 18 to 21, went to Liverpool police station on Monday after a video, posted on Snapchat, was widely publicised.
A police spokesman said the video was taken in the Barden Ridge area.
Acting superintendent Paul Albury said the men went to the area three days after the bushfire started to take the video.
“They were very apologetic,” Mr Albury told 9 News.
“The young men come from decent families, who have been mortified by the interest around their sons and the embarrassment caused to their families.”
On Facebook, the men boasted of being bushfire hunters.
”We weren’t laughing at the fire. we were laughing at each other’s jokes,” one of the men told 9 News.
Another denied being embarrassed.
Inquiries continue into the deliberately-lit fire, with police still appealing for anyone with information to come forward.
The fire has now burned through 3800 hectares and after three days burning out of control, has been contained.
Firefighters will remain onsite over the coming days to continue mop up and patrol operations.
Earlier
Police are investigating whether there is a link between a social media video of men enjoying a spreading grass fire with the weekend bushfire which threatened hundreds of Sutherland Shire homes.
The video, which was posted on Snapchat, was given to Bankstown police on Tuesday.
The video, which is being studied by fire investigators, shows the men laughing and joking as flames from a grass fire spread to nearby trees.
Comments on the video include, “Do you know how fast fire burns?”
Media outlets reported the video may have been shot at Heathcote.
There is no suggestion that the men in the video are responsible for starting the fire.
However, police are urging the men and any other witnesses to come forward.
Firefighters say it is a miracle no lives or homes were lost when the bushfire threatened residential areas including Voyager Point, Pleasure Point, Sandy Point, Alfords Point, Barden Ridge, Illawong, Menai and Bangor.
Police Strike Force Carpi and investigators from the NSW Rural Fire Service are working together to establish the cause of the fire.
NSW Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said it was “most likely deliberately lit”.
Fairfax Media reported, after viewing the Snapchat video footage, Mr Fitzsimmons said it was “concerning to say the least”.
He said the actions of the men in the video were at best “a gross act of stupidity”, but added “clearly it could be a whole lot more”.
The fire was downgraded to “advice” level on Monday.
Heathcote Road and New Illawarra Road were fully reopened on Monday evening.
Residents were urged to remain vigilant.
