The man went into the Fitzroy police station in Condell Street at 6.30am on Sunday and allegedly sprayed an accelerant on the watchhouse counter and set it alight.

The flames went out in a matter of seconds, but it's believed a policeman who was just coming through the door behind the counter narrowly avoided injury.

The elderly man had been admitted to hospital by police just hours earlier for mental health reasons before he was released and returned to the station.

The man was arrested at the scene and charged with reckless conduct endangering serious injury, criminal damage by fire and assaulting police.
 
He was remanded in custody to appear at court at a later date.