A TWO hectare grassfire which spread at Markwood on Tuesday morning is believed to have been sparked after a cow reportedly chewed through a powerline to a pump shed in a local paddock.

Firefighters were called to the Snow Road around 9.10am, after a blaze was identified on the side of a hill near the Carboor-Everton Road intersection.

A CFA spokesperson said the fire occurred in an area which housed significant amounts of stringybark.

“The fire was declared safe at 10.30am but crews remained on scene for a couple of hours blacking out (the area),” the spokesperson said.

“CFA had five trucks on scene and one vehicle supported by Fire Rescue Victoria.

“The cause of the fire is believed to be a cow which had chewed through a powerline to a pump shed.”