Broadbent appeared in Inverell Local Court yesterday accused of lighting a number of roadside bushfires.

It was Broadbent's third appearance in court since he was arrested at his home in Miles St at 6am on Monday.

An application for bail was denied.

Broadbent will reappear in Inverell Local Court on December 18.

In the worst incident, Broadbent allegedly burnt 80 hectares of private property after a fire he lit on Crown Land spread to the neighbouring property on September 3.

Documents tendered to the court showed police used an electronic tracking device to link Broadbent's vehicle to the ignition point of a number of fires.

New England Local Area Command crime manager Detective Inspector Greig Stier said police were still examining about 56 other fires dating back to December.

"We've looked at the fires since December last year and in early May or late April this year there seemed to be a bit of a pattern occurring," Det Insp Stier said.

"Apart from the September 3 incident, they are all small fires lit on Crown Land beside roadways in a small area on the outskirts of Inverell.”

Police said in most cases, Broadbent is alleged to have lit the fire, left the area, then returned to extinguish the blaze as a member of the Inverell Rural Fire Service.

No one was injured in any incident.

Broadbent's arrest was the result of extensive inquiries rural crime detectives and specialist fire investigators.

"These detectives have worked tirelessly to achieve (this) result and will continue to focus on the other fires which remain under investigation,” Det Insp Steir said.