Police say Rural Fire Service (RFS) volunteers have witnessed a man lighting two fires in the Central West.

Inspector Dave Harvey from the Orange Police station says a 33 year old man from Forbes has been arrested, but no charges have been laid.

He says it is alleged the man lit one fire at around 11:30pm (AEDT) last night, the other at 5:30am (AEDT) this morning, both along the Escort Way.

Inspector Harvey says police are extremely disappointed.

“Members of the Rural Fire Service, it’ll be alleged, they observed this male lighting the fires and then they’ve alerted police who’ve attended and he’s been arrested,” he said.

“If people are silly enough to light fires at this time of year, in the current circumstances, police will take all action, in relation to their actions, and have them before the court.”

There has been a total fire ban in the Central Ranges RFS district all week.