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Two men have been charged over their alleged roles in bushfires in the state’s Hunter region earlier this month.

About 9am on Tuesday 3 October 2023, emergency services were called to Leggetts Drive, Pelaw Main, following reports of a bushfire.

Emergency services were called to a second bushfire on Kearsley Road, Kearsley, about 12.30pm the same day.

Officers from the Hunter Valley Police District commenced inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the two incidents.

Following inquiries, a 28-year-old man was arrested at an East Maitland property on Tuesday 10 October 2023.

He was taken to Maitland Police Station where he was charged with intentionally cause fire and be reckless as to its spread (accessory after the fact to an offence), leave fire lit/used in open air without extinguishing it, and larceny.

He was refused bail and appeared before Maitland Local Court on Wednesday 11 October 2023, where he was granted conditional bail to appear before Cessnock Local Court on Wednesday 15 November 2023.

Following further inquires, a 20-year-old man was arrested at Cessnock Police Station just after 2.30pm yesterday (Thursday 26 October 2023).

He was charged with two counts of intentionally cause fire and be reckless as to its spread, and two counts of leave fire lit/used in open air without extinguishing it.

The Cessnock man was refused bail to appear before Cessnock Local Court today (Friday 27 October 2023).