CFA Media told The Courier separate investigations had been actioned by both the CFA and the Victoria Police Arson Squad, but it was too early to determine suspects.

The fire took place only hours after the CFA, SES, City of Ballarat and Crime Stoppers set up a community education stand about grassfires and arson at the Coltman Plaza-Lucas shopping centre.

The fire also blazed only a few kilometres away from the shopping centre where the community education crew was stationed at, in Cuthberts Road.

City of Ballarat municipal fire prevention officer and CFA volunteer Mark Cartledge said the fires “didn’t sit right” that afternoon.

He said the council and emergency services had teamed up in an educational program following other deliberately-lit fires at Lucas and Alfredton in recent years.

The aim was to help residents learn how to protect their properties and become aware of risks.

Their focus was on urging residents to cut their grass and to “dob in an arsonist” to Victoria Police.

He said Lucas was a focus as it sat at the edge of the urban-rural interface, making it a fire-prone area.

Crime Stoppers community manager Peter Brown said between 50 to 85 per cent of all bushfires in Victoria were human-lit, including arson and reckless fire.

He said a big focus for the multi-agency approach was illegal fireworks.

“On New Year’s Eve or Australia Day there’s always someone with big illegal fireworks, not sparklers for the kids, and they are particularly really, really dangerous,” he said.

“You can think you’re in a non-fire-risk area and it can get away from you really easily.”

To dob in an arsonist, phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit www.crimestoppersvic.com.au