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.
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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.
