Suspicious fires have broken out across Melbourne’s south east, prompting emergency services to condemn the behaviour amid extreme, catastrophic conditions and a statewide Total Fire Ban.
A Drouin resident (requested anonymity) first noticed a fire while driving home from Warragul on Friday 10 January.
“I saw something on fire on the side of the road, so I quickly pulled over to try to put it out,” she said.
Her concern escalated when the flare fell into a stormwater drain, raising fears it could ignite more rubbish and grow into a larger blaze. She praised CFA crews for arriving within 10 minutes of her call out.
State Control spokesperson confirmed two CFA units from Drouin responded to reports of a rubbish fire at around 10:20pm.
Upon arrival, crews found a fire in a drain and declared the scene safe at 10:28pm.
One firefighter (requested anonymity) described the flare as “suspicious” and “deliberately lit”.
He said police were not called, as the flare was flushed down the drain with water, leaving no evidence behind.
The Drouin resident, who was evacuated during the 2019 Bunyip fires, said the incident left her deeply disappointed.
“It’s just disgusting that someone lit it on such a dangerous day,” she said.
“One other guy and I were the only ones who stopped. We’re a community and we need to help each other and our home when we can.”
Meanwhile locals on the Berwick Community Noticeboard reported seeing more illegal fires across the area, including Cardinia Reservoir Park.
Tynong CFA said it was “extremely disappointed” to be called to burn-offs during the Fire Danger Period, and “even more concerning”, on a day of Total Fire Ban.
“Lighting fires at this time is dangerous, irresponsible and illegal,” the brigade said in a statement on Saturday.
“These actions put lives, property, firefighters and the wider community at risk, and divert critical emergency resources away from genuine incidents.
“There are no exemptions for private burn-offs during a Total Fire Ban. Conditions can change rapidly, and what may seem manageable can quickly escalate into a serious fire.”
A statewide Total Fire Ban has been in place since Friday, with fire danger ratings set at catastrophic across multiple districts. The ban has continued for several consecutive days as conditions worsen.
The Bureau of Meteorology warned of extreme heat, dangerous fire conditions, damaging winds, and dry lightning storms, with temperatures reaching the mid-40s. These conditions increased the risk of new fires and rapid fire spread.
CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan warned “If a fire takes hold, it will spread very rapidly and impact Victorian communities”.
Premier Jacinta Allan added that community behaviour could be the difference between safety and disaster.
“The conditions are extremely dangerous,” she said.
“The decisions Victorians make right now matter so much. Listening to the advice and doing the right thing simply saves lives.”
Victoria’s Emergency Management Commissioner Tim Wiebusch added: “we need the community to play their role alongside emergency services to protect lives and property.”
