Joseph Allan Adams and Edgar Louis Russell Freeman apply for bail

Two dads have faced court after an alleged destructive and fiery ploy to distract police while they attempted to sneak alcohol into a dry zone.

Joseph Allan Adams (left) and Edgar Louis Russell Freeman (right).

Two Central Queensland fathers allegedly lit multiple fires in bushland to distract police in an attempt to smuggle alcohol into a dry community.

Police prosecutor Senior Constable Sarah Rowe said Joseph Allan Adams, 52, and Edgar Louis Russell Freeman, 45, allegedly tried to take the contraband into Woorabinda on May 20.

“They have attempted to sneak through the bush, (allegedly) lit fires to distract police and the fires have burned for several hours, requiring considerable effort on behalf of farmers and rural fire services to put them out,” Senior Constable Rowe said.

“It’s placed numerous animals, people and property at risk just because they wanted to bring alcohol into a dry community.”

Mr Adams, a father of six, and Mr Freeman, a father of five, appeared before Rockhampton Magistrates Court on May 22, both charged with setting fire to vegetation.

Mr Adams was also charged with attempting to enter a relevant restricted area in possession of more than the prescribed quantity of a type of liquor for the area.

Joseph Allan Adams, 52.

Defence lawyer Brendan Gimbert represented both men for their bail applications.

He argued they should be granted bail with the condition they report to police.

Mr Gimbert said a brief of evidence would be needed for the setting fire to vegetation charge as it had to go to the district court.

He argued that it was not a “particularly strong case” against Mr Freeman and that he was at risk of serving too much time.

Senior Constable Rowe said that even if Mr Freeman had not specifically lit the fires, he was with someone who tried evading police to take alcohol into Woorabinda.

Edgar Louis Russell Freeman, 45.

“This is serious offending and he should not be given bail to attend back to that community,” she said.

Senior Constable Rowe said police found Mr Adams with the lighter and he was allegedly continuing to light more fires.

She said he demonstrated he was willing to break the law and endanger livestock and people’s lives to smuggle alcohol, and he was at risk of committing further offences.

Acting Magistrate Stephen Byrne granted both men bail with the conditions they report to police and not consume alcohol.

Matters were adjourned to July 5 with briefs of evidence ordered for the setting fire to vegetation charges.