2 teenagers charged with Australian wildfire arson

Sydney: Police have charged two teenagers with starting a wildfire that left one man dead.

Victoria state police say the youngsters were charged on Tuesday with a series of arson offenses, including arson causing death.

The charges come nearly one year after several wildfires tore across large parts of southeastern Victoria, killing 173 people and destroying more than 2,000 homes.

Police say the teenagers are accused of causing one fire, in Bendigo 170 kilometers north of Melbourne.

That fire killed a 47-year-old man and destroyed 61 houses, causing US$21 million worth of property damage.