Police will increase their patrols over summer in a bid to reduce the number of deliberately lit grassfires.
Last summer police responded to 62 intentionally lit bush or grass fires across the state – 19 more than in the summer of 2012-13.
This year, police have adopted a “zero- tolerance” approach to arson, warning people that deliberately lighting fires carries a maximum penalty of 25 years’ jail.
The warning comes as Werribee CFA urges residents to prepare for the worst.
First Lieutenant Darryl Wells said grassfires had started earlier than usual this year, with fringe areas most at risk.
In January, a deliberately lit grassfire burned more than 113 hectares at Little River.
It followed a deliberately lit fire in the town in January 2013, which tore through 350 hectares.
Victoria Police Acting Deputy Commissioner Jack Blayney said police would be running patrols in every municipality until April.
“We’ll be monitoring persons of interest and anyone responsible for starting an uncontrolled open-air fire, no matter how small or large, will face the maximum penalty.
“People who commit bushfire arson are not always strangers; they often live and work in local communities.
“Rigorous investigations will be undertaken wherever and whenever bushfire arson is suspected to prevent and reduce future disasters,” he said.
Police will also be on the lookout for people who accidentally light fires as a result of reckless behaviour.
“If someone engages in conduct that recklessly causes a bush or grass fire, they will be subject to severe penalties,” Acting Deputy Commissioner Blayney said.
“Fires can easily ignite from any number of activities such as flicking a cigarette butt, failing to properly extinguish a campfire or using tools such as angle grinders.
“If it’s reckless conduct on a day of significant risk to the people of Victoria, we will be taking action. We are asking people to think about what they are doing.”
