MELBOURNE - Almost a year after the Black Saturday bushfires devastated Victoria, two teenage boys have been charged with lighting the Bendigo blaze that killed a disabled man in his home.
One of the boys, 14, appeared in a children's court dressed in his school uniform to answer extensive charges including arson causing death.
The other boy, 15, appeared in a separate court. Both youths were bailed.
Taskforce Phoenix detectives arrested the boys yesterday morning in relation to the February 7 Maiden Gully fire, which police estimate caused A$23.5 million ($29.2 million) damage to the area.
House-bound Long Gully man Kevin "Mick" Kane, 47, died in the fire after he was trapped inside his home.
The youths were each charged with arson causing death, deliberately lighting a bushfire, lighting a fire on a total fire ban day and lighting a fire in a country area during extreme weather conditions.
As a result of the Maiden Gully fire in Bendigo, 354ha of land, 61 houses and 125 sheds and outbuildings were destroyed.
The Black Saturday fires killed 173 people across Victoria and destroyed more than 2000 properties.
- AAP
Black Saturday arrests
The chimney of a property is the only thing left standing after it was burnt to the ground. Photo / Getty Images
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