A teenager who allegedly set fire to grass at Baranduda was egged on by a younger friend, a court had heard.
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Mark Noonan, 18, allegedly started the blaze with a match at the rear of homes at Krueger Street on January 25.
He was kicked in the face by another inmate at the Wodonga Police Station holding cells on Tuesday night after mentioning what he was charged with.
The Wodonga Magistrates Court on Wednesday heard Noonan was with a 17-year-old, and spoke about lighting a fire before getting matches.
The 17-year-old lit a smaller fire on a fire trail near Possum Place, the court heard, which burnt itself out.
The boy told Noonan he "didn't have the balls" to light a fire, and the court heard he set fire to grass behind Krueger Street, which the pair watched for a minute before running away.
The teenager went with his mother into the Wodonga Police Station last Thursday and made a statement about what occurred.
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Noonan went in later that day and was arrested and said he would bash the teenager who reported him.
The court heard the 18-year-old has autism, ADHD and the mental capacity of a 13-year-old, and had attended Belvoir Special School with the younger boy.
A 2013 test found he had an IQ of 53.
Prosecutor Wayne Taylor said there were concerns the incident had occurred in the current weather conditions, and police couldn't consent to bail being granted.
Noonan has no criminal history.
Magistrate Pauline Spencer granted bail, with an 8pm to 8am curfew, and ordered he undertake a juvenile fire awareness course.
The matter will return to court on April 9.
