Michael Connelly, Phillip Harwood behind bars over Stanthorpe alleged arson

Two young men have been remanded in custody after they allegedly set fire at a tobacconist twice in 48 hours in a remote Queensland town.

Two young men have been remanded in custody after they allegedly set fire at a tobacconist twice in 48 hours in a remote Queensland town.

Brisbane men Phillip Matthew Harwood and Michael Aaron Connelly, both 25, were charged with three counts of arson, three counts of endangering property by fire and two counts of entering premises and commit indictable offence by break.

Mr Harwood, of Chermside, also faced five other charges including manufacturing and unlawfully possessing weapons, while Mr Connelly, of Deception Bay, was also charged with multiple counts of driving without a licence disqualified by a court order, wilful damage and a string of other alleged offences.

The pair allegedly broke into a tobacco shop on Maryland Street in Stanthorpe and doused the building with flammable liquid before setting it on fire around 4am on Australia Day.

The fire self-extinguished before emergency services arrived at the scene, but the duo allegedly returned two days later at 2.30am to set a second fire to the store.

MWF Plumbing's showroom has been devastated by fire after the tobacco store next door was targeted on January 28. Picture: Facebook/MWF Plumbing

The flames destroyed the shop and damaged its adjacent family-owned business MWF Plumbing’s showroom.

Firefighters battled the fire for hours and extinguished it by 5am, but part of its town centre remained closed for almost 12 hours, despite none being injured in either blaze.

Following an extensive investigation of Operation Xray Stars, police identified the two and arrested them separately more than 200km away from the crime scene on Wednesday.

Their matters were briefly mentioned in Pine Rivers Magistrates Court, but no bail application was made.

Duty lawyer Jackson Freeman, representing Mr Harwood on Friday, requested an adjournment to seek directions on the arson charges.

Magistrate Annette Hennessy ordered a brief of evidence to be ready by March 14 and adjourned their cases to the same month.

Mr Harwood and Mr Connelly were both remanded in custody.