Firefighter arson arrest claim denied

Victorian detectives investigating the deadly Marysville Black Saturday fires have angrily denied reports they are close to arresting a member of the Country Fire Authority.

Taskforce Phoenix Superintendent Paul Hollowood said such speculation was not helpful and unfairly tarnished the authority.

It was widely reported last week that detectives were confident of soon arresting the volunteer - who had already been questioned and released - over the February 7 fires that left 38 people dead and thousands homeless.

The reports also suggested the Office of Public Prosecutions told police to build a stronger case.

CFA chief executive Neil Bibby said volunteers undergo criminal police checks and probation periods but not psychological profiling.

The CFA came under fire after Black Saturday from career firefighters who accused it of not using up to 1200 professional CFA and Metropolitan Fire Brigade firefighters to battle the fires.

The only person charged so far with lighting fires on Black Saturday is Brendan Sokaluk, 39, who is accused of lighting a fire in Churchill that claimed the lives of 11 people.

- AAP