Senior station officer David Ferguson said four to five small fires, believed to have been lit by people, had been detected in the area over the past week.

“There’s been no threat to any property, but given that we’re in summer if it was a hot or windy day there’s a chance small fires could spread,” he said.

Mr Ferguson said fires started in the duff layer of pine needles and cones underneath trees could smoulder for quite a while.

“That sort of fire can smoulder away undetected then pop up on a hot day when we don’t need a fire in the CBD,” he said.

Council workers called the fire brigade this morning after discovering the fire.

Mr Ferguson said police were looking into the incidents and keeping an eye on the area, and he urged residents to call 000 if they noticed any more fires.