A FIREWOOD collector could face criminal charges after his chainsaw sparked a 472-hectare wildfire 15 kilometres south-west of Edenhope.
The fire, reported about 3pm on Wednesday, was in Meereek State Forest. The land burnt included 80 hectares of private bushland.
Yesterday Wimmera fire-fighters contained the blaze by 2.15am and controlled it after 1pm.
The firewood collector, from South Australia, used a chainsaw to remove firewood from the state forest on Wednesday.
Mid-afternoon, his chainsaw cut a rotten log, sparking the fire.
The man, 34, unsuccessfully tried to put the fire out, but it quickly spread out of control.
He then returned to his home state to alert authorities.
Horsham police then interviewed the man in Edenhope late on Wednesday.
Police released the man pending possible charges on summons.
Detective Sergeant Stephen Walker of Horsham Crime Investigation Unit said the man could face charges including having recklessly caused a bushfire and having engaged in high-risk activities in open air during a fire danger period.
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Departmen t of Sustainability and Environment incident controller Russell Manning, of Horsham Incident Control Centre, said the department was working with police about possible further charges against the man.
People are not permitted to collect firewood from designated forest areas until March.
At the fire's height, more than 100 fire-fighters from the department, Parks Victoria and CFA District 17 battled the blaze.
Crews worked overnight between Wednesday and yesterday and expect to fully black out the fire by Sunday night.
Other resources used on the fire included four fire-bombing aircraft, two reconnaissance aircraft, three bulldozers, a small tractor and 25 loads of fire retardant.
Mr Manning said the landowner whose private bushland was burnt, in the northern area of the fire, was 'very satisfied' with the fire crews' response.
Det Sgt Walker advised people to check firewood collection regulations at www.cfa.vic.gov.au/restrictions/c an.htm.
The Meereek State Forest fire is the largest in the Wimmera this year. The previous largest fire was the 230-hectare Grampians Sawmill Track fire last month.
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