WATCH: Large gum tree destroyed by fire

CFA District 22 commander Peter Gazzola said the dead gum tree was hollow, making it difficult for firefighters to extinguish the fire inside the tree, which was 3m wide at the base.

The CFA had to bring in machinery to break down the tree to ensure that the fire was extinguished completely, Mr Gazzola said.

The fire did not spread to any other bushland.

He said while it was hard to say what the cause of the fire was, it was believed to have started from suspicious activity in the area.