ANYONE found guilty of starting fires during "catastrophic" conditions has "no regard for human life" and should face "the full brunt of the law", Hunter residents who had their properties threatened on Tuesday say.
Officials are yet to confirm the cause of the almost deadly North Rothbury and Greta fires, but the likelihood of them being deliberately lit firmed on Wednesday with the Rural Fire Service saying it had "suspicions" that needed to be ruled out.
Fire investigators combed the charred bushland west of Wine Country Drive in North Rothbury yesterday morning, searching for clues that may provide answers to how a fire started and then raged only a stone's throw away from the residential area.
Some houses on the eastern side of the road suffered damage on Tuesday but were believed to be vacant homes.
Residents of adjoining properties, who were counting their lucky stars on Wednesday having returned to their homes they had fled in a frenzy a day earlier, said if there was an arsonist at hand the culprit needed to face harsh punishment.
"They deserve the full brunt of the law and and then some," North Rothbury resident Kylie Shannon said. "It's disgusting behaviour."
Ms Shannon, her husband Steve and their three children had flee their Olivia Place home so quickly on Tuesday afternoon they had no choice but to leave without their pet dog.
The kids, aged nine, seven and three, were too scared to return on Wednesday.
"With how quick that wind picked up and how quick that fire blew over, starting spot fires in our front yard, it's horrible to think that someone could have deliberately done that for a few kicks," Ms Shannon said.
Steve added: "It could have taken out a lot of homes and devastated a lot of people.
"They just don't think," he said of fire bugs. "They've got no regard for human life."
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