A man has been charged after allegedly deliberately lighting fires in suburbs across Lake Macquarie.

Earlier this month, Lake Macquarie Police District commenced an investigation into the cause of fires that were lit in Belmont, Windale, Gateshead and Charlestown between Friday 8 November and Tuesday 19 November 2019.

Police will allege the fires were set to garbage bins, items placed out for clean-up, and motor vehicles –including four that were destroyed in James Street, Windale on Friday 15 November 2019.

About 1.45pm yesterday (Tuesday 26 November 2019), officers executed a search warrant at a house on Cherry Street, Windale.

A 33-year-old man was arrested at the scene and taken to Belmont Police Station.

During the search, police located and seized CCTV and clothing that will undergo forensic examination.

The man was charged with 12 counts of destroy property by fire. He was refused bail to appear before Belmont Local Court today (Wednesday 27 November 2019).

Lake Macquarie Police District Commander, Superintendent Danny Sullivan, said that police will continue to investigate all suspicious fires and bring perpetrators to justice.

“Acts of arson at any time of year are extremely dangerous, let alone during the high temperatures we have recently experienced,” Superintendent Sullivan said.

“The capability of these fires to spread to nearby bushland and cause catastrophe is a real possibility,

“We would like to thank the community for their assistance, the information you provide is invaluable in supporting our investigations”.