NSW bat plague: firefighters extinguish suspicious blaze at Cessnock bat camp

By Brodie Owen
Updated June 9 2016 - 10:33am, first published May 23 2016 - 7:29am
Cessnock locals frustrated by the immovable colony of bats in the swamp near Long Street and Old Maitland Road attempted to light the swamp on fire.  Photo: Max Mason Hubers
Cessnock locals frustrated by the immovable colony of bats in the swamp near Long Street and Old Maitland Road attempted to light the swamp on fire. Photo: Max Mason Hubers
The area housing the bat colony was set alight on Saturday night.  Photo: Max Mason Hubers
The area housing the bat colony was set alight on Saturday night. Photo: Max Mason Hubers
The fire was contained before damaging property or injuring wildlife.  Photo: Max Mason Hubers
The fire was contained before damaging property or injuring wildlife. Photo: Max Mason Hubers

A deliberately lit fire had the potential to burn up to 30,000 bats alive in Cessnock as anger among residents reaches breaking point.

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