Australian firefighter accused of starting seven bushfires

A volunteer firefighter in Australia has been charged for alleging lighting seven blazes during the nation's bushfire crisis.

The 19-year-old is under police custody for seven counts of alleged arson in an area south of Sydney, New South Wales.

According to reports, the teen allegedly lit a fire next to the Bega river on Tuesday, left the area and returned to fight the fire.

The Rural Fire Service (RFS) said it had immediately stood down the 19-year-old and had a “zero tolerance” approach to arson.

"This type of alleged behaviour is the ultimate betrayal of our own members, and of the broader community," it said in a statement.

In another incident, a 33-year-old man has also been charged over a fire-lighting spree that left four cars destroyed in the NSW Hunter region.