Brendan Helmore pleads guilty to lighting fires at Ulupna island

A Bendigo miner lit more than 30 fires on the state’s northern border after entering a “psychotic state”, believing he was dying of dehydration and tried to signal for help.

More than 30 CFA units were required to bring a series of fires lit by a Bendigo miner under control on Easter weekend 2024. Picture: Glenn Campbell

A Bendigo miner lit more than 30 fires at a popular camping site near Tocumwal on the state’s northern border after entering a “psychotic state”, believing he was dying of dehydration and stripping off his clothes.

Brendan Helmore, 45, pleaded guilty in Shepparton County Court on Wednesday to intentionally causing a bushfire and possessing methylamphetamine.

On the Easter weekend of 2024, Helmore was camping at Ulupna island, along with about 2000 others.

He was on personal leave from his job at a West Australian-based mining company, where he worked as an underground operator at the time.

After consuming methylamphetamine the night before, Helmore went for a walk on March 30 in the bush near his campsite when he started to become distressed and delusional.

The court heard he believed he was dehydrated to the point he was going to die and panicked when he could not find any water.

He stripped his jumper and shirt off wearing only his jeans.

About 2000 people were camping at Ulupna island on March 30 last year.

Helmore saw an aircraft flying above him and in an attempt to be rescued he began setting fires with a black lighter.

Witnesses saw one of the fires and attempted to put it out before seeing more and calling emergency services.

It took four hours for the fires to be brought under control by the CFA, and a further seven days for the area to be deemed safe.

Helmore was arrested at the campsite and interviewed where he admitted to lighting at least three fires, however he denied he was in the fire area that has been reported.

The court heard he told police he did not try to put any of the fires out and kept lighting them because the first one didn’t work in getting attention.

Helmore was in prison from his arrest to November 20 last year when he was granted bail.

The court heard he experienced a “very uncomfortable” time in custody.

Defence lawyer Alex McLennan said Helmore accepted the seriousness of the offences and with his plea of guilty had accepted responsibility.

He said Helmore had good prospects for rehabilitation and had not experienced any relapses in his mental health, but would be best supported by continued treatment.

He will be sentenced on June 5 and assessed for a community corrections order.