Craig Franklin, 47, has been charged with six offences after a house fire in the city's north on Wednesday.

The charges filed in Warrnambool Magistrates Court on Thursday include arson, breaching a court order, dangerous driving, evading police, conduct endangering persons and cruelty to animals.

Detective Sergeant Jason Dance said about 30 minutes after being called to the fire, police saw "a person of interest" on a black Honda VTR1000 Firestorm motorbike on Raglan Parade near the Horne and Mahoneys roads intersection.

"What he's alleged to have done is take off at warp speed down the Princes Highway, turned off at Allansford, and then gone through a red light at roadworks near the intersection of the Great Ocean Road and Rowans Road, north of Nullawarre," he said.

Police allege he went through a 40km/h roadwork zone at about 150km/h into oncoming traffic and other drivers have had to take evasive action.

"We would like to talk to those drivers who witnessed that manner of riding and anyone who has dash camera footage of the motorbike," Detective Sergeant Dance said.

He requested anyone with information to contact the Warrnambool police station or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

He said the manner of riding at the roadworks had led to the charge of conducting endangering persons.

"No one was home at the time of the fire," he said.

"There was a cat and birds in the home and they are believed to have perished but investigations are continuing. That's what's led to the animal cruelty charges."

Lawyer Xavier Farrelly appeared in Warrnambool Magistrates Court on Thursday afternoon to represent the accused man, who remained in the police station cells due to being "unwell".

Mr Farrelly said his client did not wish to apply for bail and that custody management issues included concerns of self-harm.

Police prosecutor Carolyn Howe said the accused man was also charged with making threats to kill, reckless conduct endangering serious injury, assault with a weapon and firearm offences.

Those charges relate to an unrelated incident earlier this year.

During the five-minute filing hearing, magistrate Leonard Brear ordered a police hand-up brief be prepared by December 15.

The man was remanded in custody and will appear in court again on January 15 for a committal mention.

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