Three people were charged after allegedly lighting fires on the weekend across NSW, during a total fire ban and in the middle of a bushfire crisis gripping most of south-east Australia.
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NSW Police have taken action against more than 180 people for bushfire related offences since November last year.
On Saturday afternoon police were called to a home in Cromwell Street, Cooma after reports of a fire in a backyard.
NSW Rural Fire Service members extinguished the fire, which was burning in a shallow pit dug in the ground.
The fire was being used for cooking.
The home owner, a 63-year-old man, was issued a court attendance notice for failing to comply with a total fire ban and is due in Cooma Local Court in March.
On Sunday afternoon Monaro police were also called to a Contegany home, about 150 kilometres south of Queanbeyan, after reports of multiple fires.
An RFS crew was already on scene extinguishing the fires when police arrived.
It is alleged the fires were close to bushland but were relatively small.
The 44-year-old home owner did not have a permit to light a fire during a total fire ban and he was charged with lighting a fire for land clearance without a permit and setting fire to a property.
He will also appear in Cooma Local Court in March.
Near Maitland, a man was also charged with lighting a fire during a total fire ban on Sunday.
The man and a woman had allegedly been trying to cook food over a fire.
Firefighters again had to extinguish the fire and the 38-year-old man is due in Maitland Local Court later this month.
During a total fire ban no fires maybe lit in the open and all fire permits are suspended.
NSW Police have taken action - from cautions through to criminal prosecutions - against 183 people, including 40 juveniles, for 205 bushfire related offences.
This included 24 people charged for allegedly deliberately starting a bushfire, 53 people charged for allegedly ignoring a total fire ban and 47 people charged for allegedly discarding a lit cigarette or match.
The maximum penalty for starting a bushfire and being reckless as to its spread is up to 21 years imprisonment.
Someone lighting a fire during a total fire ban can receive up to a year in prison and/or a $5500 fine. The same for not extinguishing a fire you have lit and failing to comply with a hazard reduction notice.
