POLICE will be watching for arsonists in bushfire hot spots during a major operation, starting today, to save our own backyard from a potential disaster.A ramp-up of patrols in Victoria's west and north-west as part of Operation Redhead follows a number of suspicious bushfires over previous seasons.Police presence will be boosted in fire-prone areas and police from across the region will gather intelligence to stop arson.Moorabool Crime Investigation Unit Detective Senior Constable Brian Malloch said there had been close calls in the Bacchus Marsh, Maryborough, Ballarat, Creswick and Smythesdale areas.He said these fires were either deliberately lit or being treated as suspicious."While the fires this stage have not resulted in significant property damage, the potential has been present for them to cause considerable loss to natural resources, personal property and endanger lives," Det Sen Const Malloch said.The operation aims to deter and identify firebugs, reduce the opportunity for fires to be lit and stamp out unlawful fires."Because it's hard to predict where people light fires, members will be doing regular patrols in the bush," Det Sen Const Malloch said."We don't want it to happen in our patch."Det Sen Const Malloch said police would be adopting a zero tolerance approach to culprits.He said this included offences committed during the fire-danger period involving camp fires and urban fires putting bush areas at risk.Public vigilance is also needed to prevent deliberately lit fires. "We rely on people because they are looking after their own backyard," Det Sen Const Malloch said.He said people should act if there is anyone hanging around the bush for no reason, driving and stopping their car or trying to hide."This is an issue that affects the whole community, any information we receive will be acted on."