Firefighting gear stolen in Vic

Critical firefighting equipment has been stolen from a CFA unit in country Victoria as the bushfire season hots up.

Police have released a security camera photo of a man wanted for questioning over a string of thefts from a CFA shed in Homewood, north of Melbourne, over the Christmas period.

It is thought the same man forced entry to the CFA shed three times, from December 23 - 26.

Two chainsaws, a water pump, a 4WD recovery kit and the keys to a CFA vehicle were stolen.

"Investigators are keen to hear from anyone that may have seen any suspicious activity in the area at the time of the burglaries," according to a Victoria Police statement.