Volunteer firefighter 'deliberately lit fires'

A volunteer firefighter accused of deliberately sparking five blazes across Sydney’s south-west last month has fronted court.

Daniel James Crawford clutched his newborn baby outside Campbelltown Local Court this morning, refusing to speak to media.

The 33-year-old has been charged with intentionally causing and spreading five fires at Gilead, Spring Farm and Smeaton Grange over two days on January 15 and 16.

Crawford had only been a volunteer fire fighter for a few years.

The first fire was allegedly lit just after midnight on Glenlee Road at Gilead. Moments later a second blaze broke out on the same road.

Half an our later two more fires erupted at Spring Farm, the same suburb where the accused lives.

The fifth fire broke out an hour later at Smeaton Grange.

The case was adjourned until next month.