Firefighters were called to multiple fires in bushland off Ulupna Bridge Rd just before 1pm.
When they arrived, they discovered 42 different fires in a 1.5km stretch of Barmah National Park.
The fires ranged in size from 1sqm to half a hectare.
Forest Fire Management Victoria incident controller Scott Edwards said 80 CFA firefighters and 35 Forest Fire Management Victoria staff used 30 CFA fire trucks and 17 Forest Fire Management Victoria appliances to fight the fires.
Two fire-bombing helicopters and an air attack platform helicopter — which coordinated the response between the fire-bombing helicopters and crews on the ground — also helped fight the fires.
Bulldozers, an excavator and multi-terrain loaders were also used to put firebreaks around the four biggest fires.
Strathmerton CFA captain Evan Bourchier said crews had difficulty getting to the scene due to the fire location.
“We had quite a bit of difficulty cutting our way to the fire to get access for the trucks to get in,” he said.
Despite the massive resources thrown at the fire, Forest Fire Management only declared the fires all contained on Easter Sunday afternoon, roughly 24 hours later.
Mr Edwards said the majority were under control by Saturday evening, but some of the larger ones still had trees burning and took until Sunday to be declared under control.
He said Forest Fire Management Victoria crew would continue to visit the scene for about a week to patrol or monitor any flare-ups.
“It (the fire area) is not expanding in size,” he said.
“There are logs still burning, but it (the fire) is not spreading in size or posing a risk to campers or the public.
“The patrols are to make sure no new hotspots occur.”
Mr Edwards said so many firefighters and fire trucks had been sent to the fire because it was not known early on what the potential was for the fires to join up into one fire.
“There were a lot of campers in the area,” he said.
Mr Edwards praised Forest Fire Management Victoria staff, CFA volunteers and Moira Shire workers, who provided food for firefighters on Saturday night, for their efforts.
“It was a good demonstration of multiple agencies working together to put this out … and keeping public safety and welfare at the forefront,” he said.
A 44-year-old Bendigo man has been charged with conduct endangering serious injury, intentionally causing a bushfire, recklessly causing a bushfire and possession of a drug of dependence.
He was remanded in custody to appear in Shepparton Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, April 2.
Cobram Senior Constable Lachlan Fraser has requested anyone with dashcam footage to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or crimestoppersvic.com.au or Cobram police on 5871 1977.
