Add Category
A 23-year-old man accused of lighting a string of fires in Western Australia's Wheatbelt during weather of 36 degrees Celsius has been handed five more charges.
- Zak Bryan Bidstrup has been charged with 10 counts of arson
- The fires started over two days when Northam reached temperatures of more than 36 degrees Celcius
- The charges carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in jail
Zak Bryan Bidstrup is now accused of lighting 10 blazes in two days in the Northam area, which burned through hectares of bushland and placed lives and homes at risk.
Bidstrup appeared in Perth Magistrates Court on Thursday facing five counts of wilfully lighting a fire likely to injure or damage, two counts of threatening a police officer and one count of assaulting an officer.
Today's new charges relate to three fires on December 20 and two on December 21.
The arson squad spent hours on-scene on Thursday to determine what caused the blazes.
Three of the 10 fires were allegedly lit on Tuesday at Mount Ommaney, Bakers Hill and Copley near Northam.
A further seven fires were allegedly lit on Wednesday, just minutes apart, between Burlong and Northam airport.
Aerial support was used to contain one of the blazes, with temperatures on both days exceeding 36C.
Bidstrup will remain behind bars until his next court appearance on January 19.