Three former volunteer firefighters were among a group answering to arson charges in a New Brunswick provincial court Tuesday.

Five people are accused in a string of arson cases in the Doaktown area, in the central part of the province. The five people include four men in their 20s and a woman, 39.

Three had been volunteer firefighters with the Doaktown fire department, though it hasn't been confirmed which three.

The charges involve four fires in unoccupied buildings. The first fire happened in November 2008 and the rest occurred almost exactly one year later.

Leo Murray Veno, 28, of Doaktown and Troy Ward, 25, of Blissfield face one charge of arson each over the 2008 fire.

Veno appeared in court in Miramichi on Tuesday and received an adjournment so he could process his legal-aid application. Ward didn't appear but had his lawyer enter a not guilty plea.

Multiple charges

Terrence Murray Ryder, 25, of Fredericton appeared in court to face three arson-related charges over the 2009 fires and had his case adjourned.

Those same 2009 fires also led to two arson charges against Thomas Francis Colford, 24, and one against Sherry Story, 39. The two Doaktown residents did not appear in court Tuesday but entered not guilty pleas through their counsel.

Ward, as well as Colford and Story, elected trial by provincial court judge and had trial dates set for August.

Doaktown fire Chief Scott Stewart said one of the five charged had been dismissed from the department a year ago and two others were suspended in March. Stewart wouldn't identify the individuals.