A man accused of lighting two fires - as well as leaving two others to burn after his co-accused sparked them - on a day when conditions presented a greater-than-usual risk of bushfires, will face a hearing.
Cessnock Local Court heard on Tuesday that Harley Barrett, 29, would fight the charges before a magistrate on October 29.
Mr Barrett was facing court on Tuesday for other, unrelated, counts - including allegedly being involved in a police pursuit and stalking/intimidation.
The East Maitland man was charged on October 10 last year with two counts each of leaving a fire lit in open air, and intentionally causing fire and being reckless as to its spread.
He is alleged to have ignited two blazes on Crown land on October 3 - one on Leggetts Drive at Pelaw Main in the morning and the other at the Kitchener East trail at Kearsley in the afternoon.
He also allegedly left two fires lit - sparked by another person - at Pelaw Main on the same day.
Mr Barrett's co-accused was also charged.
The blazes were lit on a day the Rural Fire Service declared a total fire ban in the region due to hot and dry conditions.
Mr Barrett remains on conditional bail.
