A man will appear in court today after being charged with a number of offences following a house fire in East Maitland at the weekend.
About 5.30am on Sunday 9 October, emergency services were called to a home in Lawes Street.
Upon arrival, Fire and Rescue NSW crews found the premises alight.
They then extinguished the blaze a short time later.
However, the home was significantly damaged.
A 28-year-old male was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics for smoke inhalation and minor burns, before being taken to Maitland Hospital in a stable condition.
Officers from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District attended and established a crime scene.
Following a search of the premises, the bodies of two cats – who were in the home at the time of the incident – were located.
Detectives began investigations into the incident and, after inquiries, a 44-year-old man was arrested on Raymond Terrace Road, Millers Forest.
He was taken to Raymond Terrace Police Station where he was charged with damage property by fire/explosion >$1500 and breach bail.
He was refused bail and will appear at Maitland Local Court on Monday 10 October.
