Three men accused of lighting dozens of fires in central Victoria will remain in custody for the time being, after their applications for bail were denied.
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Justin Hagley, 37, Scott Hagley, 36 and Andrew Valli, 31, appeared in the Bendigo Magistrates' Court on Monday.
Over the course of more than four months, police allege, the trio lit fires in various locations in the region, most along the route they took home to Bendigo from their regular tenpin bowling sessions in Shepparton on Friday nights.
The court heard the CFA made police aware of a series of fires deemed suspicious that occurred in November at Burnewang, Avonmore and Goornong.
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Shortly afterwards, there were more fires in Avonmore and Goornong, and two weeks after that, more fires in the same areas as well as Colbinabbin, Girgarre East, Carag Carag, Corop, Burnewang, Runnymede, Toolleen and Axedale.
One of the fires at Avonmore spread and destroyed hay, fencing and a hay shed, valued at $64,500.
The court heard investigations revealed the fires were caused by direct ignition of the vegetation.
In February, a fire began at Rochester at a roadside memorial for Matthew Hagley, who had died in a crash 10 years prior to the day.
The court heard fires continued into March, among them blazes in Golden Square and Eaglehawk.
Fires also occurred at Moora, Nathalia, Kotupna, Bamawm, Ballendella and Hunter.
Detective Senior Constable Heazlewood said phone and Optus location data linked the accused to the fires.
He said Justin Hagley's vehicle was also intercepted on the Elmore-Barnadown Road - the scene of a number of fires - one night, and the vehicle was also one of few observed on the road on other nights.
The court heard that on Friday, March 27, the three accused men drove to a supermarket, where Scott Hagley allegedly gave Mr Valli money to buy him sparklers.
It was alleged that they drove to Melbourne and in the car spoke about lighting fires.
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Mr Valli is accused of saying at one point: "We're not here to talk about ice cream, we're here to light fires".
The trio are accused of lighting more fires on their way back north, at Bolinda and Tooborac.
The court heard the vehicle they were in was intercepted and a search revealed a packet of sparklers which originally had 16 in it, but only four remained.
Sparkler remnants were found at the scenes of that night's fires.
In total, police allege the men are responsible for 38 fires, although Scott Hagley is not accused of involvement in two fires.
Justin Hagley and Mr Valli are each charged with 38 counts of intentionally lighting a fire and one count of criminal damage by fire, while Scott Hagley is facing 36 counts of intentionally lighting a fire and one count of criminal damage by fire.
Detective Senior Constable Heazlewood said he was concerned the men would offend if released on bail.
Justin and Scott Hagley cited health concerns as reasons for bail, but magistrate Patrick Southey found Justin Hagley did not show compelling reasons and Scott Hagley still presented an unacceptable risk.
Mr Southey also found Mr Valli - who said he needed to help his ill partner - did not show exceptional circumstances to justify release on bail.
The men were remanded in custody to appear at court again in June.
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