A man allegedly set fires near 2000 people who were camping on the Easter long weekend because he “thought he was going to die”, a court has heard.

Brendan Helmore, 44, from the Bendigo suburb of Golden Square, successfully applied for bail in Shepparton Magistrates’ Court.

He is charged with reckless conduct endangering serious injury, intentionally causing a fire, recklessly causing a fire and possessing methamphetamines.

Prosecutor Vincent Farrugia told the court Mr Helmore set between 33 and 37 fires, each up to as big as 1.24 hectares, at Ulupna Island, near Strathmerton, at around 12.50pm on Easter Saturday, March 30.

He said 2000 people were camping in the area that weekend.

It took 33 CFA units to control the fires, four hours to get them under control and seven days to confirm the area was safe, the court heard.

Dr Farrugia told the court Mr Helmore took methamphetamines before he went for a walk into the bush, and became “distressed” and “delusional”, thinking he was lost.

Mr Helmore told police he had methamphetamines on him, and he set the fires to get help from a plane that was flying over because he thought he was going to die, the court heard.

Being raised in Numurkah, Mr Helmore was familiar with the area, and aware of its popularity over the Easter long weekend, Dr Farrujia said.

He told police he knew the bushland was dry, but “his life was more important than other people camping”.

Mr Helmore previously unsuccessfully applied for bail in April and July; however, a psychiatric report stating he had schizophrenia and was in a drug-induced psychosis at the time of the alleged offences was submitted to the court on this occasion.

His defence counsel told the court Mr Helmore was on a new regimen of medication, he was no longer in a drug-induced psychosis and he wanted to live with his mother to recover while on bail.

The prosecution did not oppose bail.

Magistrate Simon Zebrowski granted Mr Helmore bail with the conditions he does not go to Moira Shire, lives in Beveridge, comply with a 10pm to 6am curfew on weekends, report to the police once a week, not use drugs, comply with directions of medical practitioners and not contact any prosecution witnesses.

He will next appear in court in February next year.

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Wednesday, 22nd November 2023

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