Senior Sergeant Ian Brooks from Castlemaine police said the fires were by no means big, but they were a cause of major concern.

“They were only very, very small,” he said.

“But all fires start off small and it’s very dry around the area at the moment.”

Police believed the fires were deliberately lit.

“On Sunday about 12.45pm there was a very small group of fires at the Chewton Cemetery, just inside the gate,” he said.

“There was a series of small fires lit.

“They only burnt about two square metres but, obviously, at this time of year this is of major concern to us.

“We were also notified about 20 minutes later of another fire on the Pyrenees Highway at Tunnel Hill.

“Again, it was very, very small.”

A quick-thinking motorist extinguished the fire with a bottle of coke while a man who was watering some trees put out the fires at the Chewton Cemetery.

“We have very little information about the fires so if anyone has any information they should phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000,” Senior Sergeant Brooks said.?