Man confesses to NSW bushfire arson

A young man has pleaded guilty to deliberately lighting a bushfire near Newcastle on a hot summer's day.

Andrew Rodney John Merrick, 25, lit the fire in bushland near Fassifern Railway Station in the Lake Macquarie area on the afternoon of January 3.

Police say there were 22 ignition points across four areas of the fire ground. It was 27C that day.

The fire was extinguished by emergency services before anyone was hurt but NSW Police's arson unit began investigating under Strikeforce Wollybutt.

Merrick was arrested at another railway station in East Maitland on Thursday morning - a week after he started the fire.

Police also allege he'd been in possession of stolen bank cards.

The 25-year-old's matter was dealt with at Maitland Local Court on Friday where guilty pleas were accepted to charges including intentionally causing a fire and possessing stolen goods.

He did not apply for bail and it was formally refused.

Lighting a bushfire and being reckless to its spread carries a maximum sentence of 21 years in prison.

Merrick is expected to be sentenced via video link at Toronto Local Court on Tuesday.