On April 22, just after 1am, emergency services were called to a property on Billilingra Road, Billilingra (near Bredbo) following reports a hay shed was on fire.

The Rural Fire Service extinguished the blaze.

A spokesperson from NSW Police said the fire had spread to a neighbouring property and caused extensive damage to two haysheds and two properties.

Rural Crime Investigators established a crime scene and launched an investigation into circumstances around the fire.

A search warrant was executed at a Cooma residence on May 9 where a 22-year-old man and a 39-year-old woman were arrested.

The pair were charged with ‘destroy property in company by fire’ and were refused bail.

Detective Inspector Cmeron Whiteside, the NSW Police State Rural Crime Coordinator, said police are committed to reducing rural crime and encourage farmers to report all incidents, big or small.

“Rural crime can have a devastating effect on farmers and the wider community,” said Detective Inspector Whiteside.

“The obvious priority is to target those individuals and groups that threaten the safety and livelihood of others.”