A young man will face court today for allegedly lighting fires in the Adelaide River region as the Northern Territory endured some of the worst weather conditions in more than five years, NT Police have said.

Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Jak Evans said the 24-year-old man was arrested on Friday in Pine Creek following an investigation into the Strickland Road fire north of Adelaide River – allegedly deliberately lit on Thursday morning.

He was charged with one count of causing a bushfire and was refused bail.

The fire threatened nearby residents and properties, in hot, dry and windy conditions of last week where the fire danger was declared “catastrophic” in Darwin’s rural area by the Bureau of Meteorology. The BOM’s Todd Smith said the recent “dangerous and rare” weather in the NT had not been experienced in the Top End since 2015.

A fire in the Top End in early August. Picture: Bushfires NT

The fire blocked part of the Stuart Highway, putting a further strain on already stretched resources as firefighters battled four other fires.

“The devastating impacts bushfires have is well known to everyone,” Snr Sgt Evans said.

“Any person caught lighting a bushfire will be charged and face the courts.”

A total fire ban had been declared for parts of the Top End on Thursday and was extended into the weekend.