Four CFA trucks attended a one-hectare bushfire at 11.30am on Monday after a tree that was struck by lightning on Saturday later ignited.

The fire spread through scrub and bush on a private property near the intersection of Ballarat-Carngham and Finches roads. It was brought under control a short time later and crews remained on scene to black spot the area.

Ballarat City senior station officer Kade Dowie said residents had to be aware of the ongoing dangers of lightning strikes.

“We would suggest that residents and landowners be aware that if lightning strikes trees that they can smoulder for a day or two,” he said.

“It’s not unusual for them to ignite days afterward.

“The threat of fire does not necessarily stop after the storm has passed, and can linger for some time after.”

Landowner Daryl Kopke said it was the first fire on his land for decades.

Another fire on Saturday evening that started just an hour before a thunderstorm passed through the region is being treated as suspicious. 

Five trucks were called to Lucas, near the intersection of Cuthberts and Finches roads, at 6.30pm after a hedge fire began spreading into a paddock.

CFA District 15 regional duty officer Gavin Hope said the weather conditions were very windy at the time, fuelling the fire. 

He said several concerns had been held last year after a spate of suspicious fires in the area, although no connection could be made to Saturday’s fire.

“We had a lot of concerns (of firebugs) there last year,” Mr Hope said.

“So we don’t yet know if they are connected to last year’s fires.”