By ANEEKA SIMONIS and KATHRYN BERMINGHAM
SPARKS from an exposed axle grinding on a hot asphalt road in Officer South are thought to have been the cause behind two roadside bushfires.
Traffic was blocked off in both directions as fire-fighters worked to douse the flames at two sites either side of Cardinia Road between Watson Road and Patterson Road after 1.30pm on Friday 4 March.
Police on the scene said the fires were believed to have been started by a trailer which lost a wheel, exposing a metal axle which scraped across the road for about a kilometre.
The grinding friction was thought to have created sparks which came into contact with dry roadside bushes, igniting the smouldering flames.
Police redirected traffic as fire-fighters worked to contain the blaze.
The CFA website listed a very high fire danger rating for Friday, which reached 37 degrees in the outer south-east region.
