Man faces court for north Sydney bushfires

A hospital has been ordered to assess if a man charged with lighting a bushfire during a total fire ban in Sydney is mentally ill.

Craig Edward Flowers, 50, was arrested on Wednesday morning after detectives allegedly spotted him near a fire in bushland at Berowra.

Edwards allegedly attempted to flee but officers gave chase and arrested him at the scene.

Hot and windy conditions had triggered total fire bans across much of NSW and caused havoc for firefighters working to contain blazes in the Hunter and mid north coast regions through the day.

Investigations began after a small bushfire was sparked off the Pacific Highway on September 5, which police allege is also connected to Edwards.

Police allege Edwards was also responsible for a third bushfire in the area on August 24.

Edwards appeared before Hornsby local court on Thursday where magistrate Justice Reiss ordered he be taken, under police guard, to Hornsby Hospital for a mental health assessment.

If he is found not to be mentally ill he will be brought back before the court at a later date.