A man has been charged with allegedly purposely causing a fire at Lake Macquarie.
It comes after a white Ford Falcon ute was allegedly stolen from Freemans Drive, Freemans Waterhole on Friday morning.
Just after 10am, police were alerted to a vehicle, alleged to be the stolen Ford, being driven in a dangerous manner along John Renshaw Drive towards Buchanan.
Police said officers tried to stop the vehicle and saw another car that had allegedly been hit by the Ford on Buchanan Road, but the driver had failed to stop.
About 15 minutes later, police found the ute well alight on a property on Buchanan Road, Buchanan.
The Rural Fire Service attended and extinguished the blaze in the vehicle, as well as a small grass fire that had started only metres from bushland.
A 32-year-old man was arrested nearby and was taken to Maitland Hospital for assessment and treatment to injuries to his legs.
When released from hospital, he was taken to Cessnock police station and charged with enter inclosed land not prescribed premises without lawful excuse, take and drive conveyance without consent of owner, drive recklessly/furiously or speed/manner dangerous, not give particulars to other driver, damage property by fire, intentionally cause fire and be reckless as to its spread and steal motor vehicle.
He was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court.
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