The 28-year-old contract firefighter from Castlemaine fell about five metres from a steep incline after a burning log rolled towards him during Department of Sustainability and Environment blacking-out activities on Wednesday morning.

It took ambulance crews more than three hours to extract the man from the difficult terrain and transport him by road from the site on Water Race Road near Beaufort.

An Ambulance Victoria spokesperson said the man was admitted to the Ballarat Base Hospital on a spinal support system, having suffered serious abrasions and other injuries.

He remained in a stable condition at the hospital yesterday.

A Department of Sustainability and Environment regional spokesperson said department staff were currently assisting the firefighter’s family as his recovery continued.

“DSE has referred the incident to Worksafe Victoria for investigation,” the spokesperson said.

Community and Public Sector Union state secretary Karen Batt said the man’s injuries highlighted the danger of placing unrealistic demands on DSE staff.

“We are concerned that incidents like this highlight the dangers in the government asking firefighters to do more work with less resources,” she said.

“Incidents like these show how dangerous fatigue can be when it comes to DSE activities like controlled burns.”

Acting opposition spokesperson for emergency services James Merlino welcomed the investigation by Worksafe Victoria.

“This is a tragic accident and our thoughts go out to the firefighter,” he said.

“Our firefighters do an extraordinary job protecting Victorians and it’s important the government makes sure he and his family are provided the support they need.”

Ms Batt said industrial action in opposition to Baillieu government plans to cut 10 per cent of all departmental staff across the state was designed to prevent further accidents such as this.

Follow @TomMcIlroy