Senior Constable Ross Bartley said that “unfortunately” there was no criminal charge to be laid under the Bushfires Act if the fire, which escaped from a fuel reduction on a local property, was accidental.

Police are still making inquiries on the matter but are satisfied it was the result of a mistake.

“He’s very remorseful, he’s taken it quite hard,” Const Bartley said of the man responsible.

“Obviously he’s quite shocked.

“He tried to put it out, he took measures he thought appropriate at the time.”

He said a rumour that the man had driven away from the escaped fire was untrue.

The man had left the burnoff believing it was out, he said.

“He actually came back a number of times.

“It’s possible there was a wind change that blew some embers and lighted another area of the property.”

No burn-off restrictions in the shire had been set at the time and no permit was required.

In other police matters, a local was charged with possession of cannabis and stealing last Wednesday.