Brendan Helmore, 44, allegedly lit 30 bushfires in Ulupna, near Cobram, on Saturday, March 30

A Bendigo man who allegedly lit 30 bushfires while 200 people were enjoying their Easter break camping on the Murray River has fronted court.

Bendigo man Brendan Helmore allegedly lit 30 bushfires at Ulupna on Saturday while 200 people were camping nearby.

A Bendigo man accused of lighting bushfires near Cobram allegedly told police that he lit them “as he believed he was going to die”.

Brendan Helmore, 44, from Golden Square, has been charged with conduct endangering serious injury, intentionally causing a bushfire, recklessly causing a bushfire and possession of a drug of dependence.

It is alleged Mr Helmore lit roughly 30 separate fires on Easter Saturday in the Barmah National Park in Ulupna.

The bushfires took the CFA and forest management authorities seven hours to put out and that

five of the fires were “major”.

The court heard firefighters were hoping to have the situation fully under control by April 4, with smoke still significantly affecting the area.

Detective Senior Constable Lachlan Fraser said that Mr Helmore, who told police he was a miner from Kalgoorlie, had been suffering from a drug-induced psychosis.

Ulupna, where Brendan Helmore allegedly lit 30 bushfires on Saturday, March 30. Picture: Supplied

Mr Fraser told the court that Mr Helmore was naked when police spotted him after attending to the scene of four small fires.

The court heard that there were approximately 200 people camping in the area over the busy Easter holiday period and that witnesses were scared and began to evacuate the area.

Mr Fraser said that Mr Helmore allegedly told police the reason he lit the fire was a cry for help.

“To flag down a plane in the sky as he believed he was going to die”, Mr Helmore allegedly told police.

The defence applied for Mr Helmore to be granted bail.

The court heard that there were up to 200 people camping on the Murray River, Ulupna, when the fires were allegedly lit. Picture: Supplied

Bailed was opposed by the prosecution, citing that Mr Helmore was a danger to the public.

The prosecution also noted that more 91 per cent of people charged with arson receive a term of imprisonment in their opposition of the bail application.

Mr Helmore’s lawyer said that he could have conditions applied to his bail that would ensure he would not be a risk to the public.

The defence also told the court that Mr Helmore had not been working for two months, but was employed as a fly in, fly out miner.

Brendan Helmore fronted the Shepparton Magistrates’ Court after allegedly lighting bushfires while 200 people were camping on the Murray River at Ulupna on Saturday, March 30. Picture: Supplied

The defence also argued that Mr Helmore was not an “unacceptable risk” to the public if he was granted bail.

Magistrate Peter Mithen said “this was an unusual case” and said the charges he was facing were “serious”.

Mr Mithen noted Mr Helmore’s employment and lack of prior criminal history, but Mr Mithen refused bail due to “the risk of endangering the welfare of the public”.

Mr Helmore will front court again at a later date.