REGIONAL Victorians are being asked to be on the lookout for illegally lit fires during the continuing bushfire season after a 'concerning' rise in offences over the last five years.

More than 1100 illegal fires were recorded in Victoria since 2019, according to data recently released by CFA and the Crime Statistics Agency

During that time there were 1,010 recorded instances of lighting a fire during the Fire Danger Period (FDP) and 187 cases of lighting a fire on a Total Fire Ban (TFB) day.

The FDP is a designated time in each Victorian municipality when fire restrictions apply due to increased fire risk.

A TFB is declared on days of extreme conditions, prohibiting any fires in the open air.

Under the CFA Act, penalties for allowing an open-air fire to escape during a declared FDP can include fines of up to $23,710, 12 months imprisonment, or both.

The penalties double if the escape occurs on a TFB day.

CFA chief officer Jason Heffernan said the stats were 'worrying'.

“Lighting a fire during the fire danger period and on days of total fire ban puts lives, homes, and emergency responders at risk,” Mr Heffernan said.

“If you ignore fire restrictions, you could be facing serious legal repercussions and more importantly, you could be responsible for devastating losses.

“Victoria is already one of the most fire-prone regions in the world, so we certainly don’t need unnecessary challenges created by carelessness or deliberate acts.”

A recent incident in Diamond Creek on Monday, January 20 saw CFA crews arrive to find smoke issuing from a pile of green tree branches stacked approximately a metre high.

Victoria Police attended the scene and are now pursuing charges against the resident for lighting a fire during Nillumbik Shire Council’s FDP.

All Victorian municipalities are currently in the FDP.

Illegal or suspicious fire activity should be reported immediately to triple zero (000) or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.