Angle grinder sparked Melb bushfire

Sparks flying from the angle grinder of a reckless handyman lit a Melbourne bushfire that scorched more than 2000 hectares, a court has been told.

Michael Jee was cutting a cable on a roadside barrier during a heatwave in February 2013 when sparks spewing from his machinery started a fire in nearby dry grass.

Jee, 47, has pleaded not guilty in the Victorian County Court to recklessly causing a bushfire.

The court was told his attempts to stamp out the blaze proved futile, and he later told his boss: "I stuffed up."

Prosecutor Mark Gibson said Jee was working in Donnybrook, an area the CFA had classified as being subject to a high fire danger.

He said Jee had ignored key safety regulations and had no water on hand to douse any potential blaze.

Jee did not properly set up a shield to block the flying sparks and was working too close to flammable material, Mr Gibson said.

"A fire ignites and spreads and spreads for over 2000 hectares," Mr Gibson said.

"The inherent nature of an angle grinder is that it sparks.

"That's on a day when it's hot, it's windy, it's dry."

His lawyer, Megan Casey, told the jury Jee's actions had started the fire but they were not reckless.

"There's a difference between causing a bushfire and causing one recklessly," she said.

She said the prosecution would have to prove Jee knew he would probably cause a bushfire by using his angle grinder on February 18, 2013, that it would probably spread and he would be unable to put it out.

Jee's trial continues.