Reckless fire and arson are attributed as the cause of more than 50 per cent of all bushfires across the country.

There were 556 suspicious fires in Victoria during the 2014-15 bushfire season.

Crime Stoppers launched its bushfire arson campaign in Horsham last week.

Crime Stoppers Victoria community manager Peter Brown said he hoped the campaign encouraged people to speak up when they saw anything related to bushfire arson.

“The summer outlook is for significantly increased fire activity in Victoria with the state having already experienced some serious bushfires,” he said.

“Preventing bushfires is everyone’s responsibility and reckless fires cost lives.”

Wimmera Region Division Four Inspector Rebecca Olsen said people also needed to be aware of their own actions.

“Be mindful of your activities during fire danger periods – it could be your actions that result in loss of life or property damage,” she said.

Mrs Olsen urged people to take note of any suspicious behaviour.

“If you believe a person, or vehicle, is behaving in a suspicious manner write down the details,” she said.

“If you record the details straight away the more accurate they are likely to be, and the more helpful the information will be to police.

Mrs Olsen said if a fire does spark in their area to be aware of a number of things.

She said people should take note of any people around the scene before the fire started, the make and model of any cars in the area before the fire started and any activities prior to the fire including camping, firewood collection or bushwalkers.

“Also remember the time and location where you first observed the fire,” she said.

Mrs Olsen urged anyone who saw smoke or fire to call triple zero immediately.

Mr Brown said people with information on deliberately lit fires or reckless fire behaviour to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or make a report on crimestoppersvic.com.au.