A NSW man accused of deliberately lighting a bushfire which caused the evacuation of homes and businesses has been charged.
No one was injured during the out-of-control fire at Kurri Kurri, the second for the state's Hunter region on Tuesday. It continues to burn close to where a suspicious blaze broke out last Thursday.
Multiple water-bombing planes were brought in to help in the heatwave conditions with temperatures climbing to 40C.
The fire was at a watch-and-act level on Tuesday evening.
The 26-year-old arrested by police has been charged with with intentionally causing fire and being reckless as to its spread.
He has been held in custody to face Maitland Local Court on Wednesday.
Rural Fire Service and Fire and Rescue NSW crews remain at the scene.
