Gavin James Gardiner faces up to 21 years' imprisonment after deliberately lighting the huge Ebor bushfire, that spiralled out of control and threatened homes east of Armidale, late last year.

The massive Guyra Road inferno raged for weeks, with residents forced to flee after it burned through more than 22,800 hectares.

The 51-year-old is still behind bars and admitted to the offence in Armidale Local Court this week.

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Gardiner pleaded guilty to one count of intentionally causing a fire and being reckless to its spread. He's been committed for sentence to the district court in Armidale.

Magistrate Michael Holmes was told a second offence of dishonestly for gain damage property by fire was to be withdrawn during sentencing proceedings, but the charge was committed to the district court to be dealt with.

Mr Holmes ordered Community Corrections authorities to prepare an assessment report on Gardiner's background and the offending ahead of sentencing later this year.

Gardiner made no bid for bail ahead of sentencing and it was formally refused. He will remain in prison until a date for sentence is fixed at a callover in August.

Gardiner has been in custody since his arrest at a hotel in Ebor on November 15 - a day after the fire was sparked.

As the fire raged last year, tensions were high in the village after claims emerged the fire was deliberately lit by Gardiner to stop a cannabis crop going up in flames. Further fuelling the fire, the blaze was lit during a total fire ban; and one of the worst droughts on record.

Crews had to protect Gardiner's Ebor home in the firefight - one of several to be saved - as other residents were evacuated from their houses when it spread out of control.

The Leader revealed Gardiner's arrest after detectives claimed the Ebor local sparked the fire to backburn around a cannabis crop.

It's the police case that Gardiner deliberately set fire to bushland off Guyra Road on the afternoon of November 14, about 10km west of Ebor village. He made no attempt to control the blaze.