A man will face court today charged over allegedly deliberately lighting fires near Newcastle.
About 11.40am yesterday (Saturday 18 March 2023), emergency services were called to grassland near Weakleys Drive, Beresfield, following reports of four fires.
Fire and Rescue NSW attended and extinguished all four blazes. No one was injured.
Officers from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District established a crime scene and commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Following inquiries, investigators arrested a 43-year-old man nearby on John Renshaw Drive a short time later.
He was taken to Maitland Police Station, where he was charged with four counts of intentionally cause fire and be reckless as to its spread and breach of bail.
The Maroubra man was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court today (Sunday 18 March 2023).
