FIRE authorities were disappointed after discovering 52 unattended campfires across the North East over the Australia Day weekend with 31 found on Monday, which was a Total Fire Ban day.

The campfires were located near Edi, Cheshunt, Howqua, Woods Point, Jamieson, Goughs Bay, Bright, Mount Beauty, Porepunkah, Rutherglen and along the Murray River near Yarrawonga.

They were detected by Forest Fire Management Victoria crews and authorised officers from the Conservation Regulator.

"Luckily none of them had spread," Hume deputy chief fire officer Aaron Kennedy said.

"An unattended campfire can become a bushfire in a matter of minutes.

"Embers can spark and start a fire that spreads quickly in the bush, putting the community, firefighters and the environment at risk.”

Campers are reminded to check weather conditions and know campfire safety rules:

* in state forests, use a purpose-built fireplace if provided, otherwise use a trench greater than 30cm deep;

* the campfire must not exceed one square metre, while three metres in the air and on the ground around your fire must be clear of flammable material;

* branches and logs on your campfire must not exceed one metre in length;

* never leave a campfire unattended; and

* campfires must be extinguished with water, not soil, as fires can still smoulder under soil.

On the spot fines of $496 apply to those breaching campfire rules or a maximum penalty of up to $16,522 if the matter is prosecuted in court.

The maximum penalty for lighting a fire in the open air on a day of Total Fire Ban is $39,652 or two years imprisonment, or both.

If people see a campfire that is unattended call 136 186.

Only call 000 if reporting a bushfire.

For more information and campfire safety rules, go to www.ffm.vic.gov.au.