At least 10 rural fire stations in western Victoria have been broken into over the past few months, prompting the Country Fire Authority to consider ramping up security.

Burglaries at the Snake Valley and Napoleons-Enfield brigades over the weekend were the latest in a string of incidents around Ballarat and Horsham.

"Yesterday afternoon the captain arrived and discovered that a number of chainsaws were stolen from the [Snake Valley] fire station," CFA Ararat District 16 Operations Officer Neville Collins said.

"The fire trucks were ransacked. Each locker had been gone through and [they had] stolen various equipment plus the tool box and tools contained."

Mr Collins said a lot of the equipment at small stations was bought using funds raised by local communities.

He said the CFA was looking at ways to improve security at its rural fire stations.

"All fire stations now, we'll be looking at our security and we'll be updating them accordingly," Mr Collins said.

The thefts put some brigades out of action for hours while police investigated, and it was estimated the equipment stolen at Snake Valley alone was worth $10,000.

Police looking into possible link between burglaries

This door was forced open over the weekend at the Snake Valley CFA Station, where equipment worth about $10,000 was stolen. ( ABC Ballarat: Sian Johnson )

Moorabool Police have been investigating the break-ins at the Napoleons-Enfield, Snake Valley and Berringa stations, with laptops, torches, radios, chainsaws and GPS satellite systems among the stolen items.

Detective Senior Constable Stuart Grimley said police were looking into whether the burglaries were linked.

"These are volunteer-run stations and the community relies heavily on the CFA," he said.

"I think it's quite disgusting that people chose to break in to these places and steal these valuable items that will have to be replaced somehow."

Detective Senior Constable Grimley urged members of the public to look out for the stolen goods, many of which bear inscriptions, and contact Crime Stoppers with any information.

Donation from local business raises brigade's spirits

Napoleons-Enfield CFA secretary Ross Skilbeck said his brigade serviced the area between Sebastopol and Dereel and was made up entirely of volunteers.

Last Friday night, the station was broken into and a chainsaw, fuel canisters, GPS satellite systems and a laptop containing important data were taken.

"It's been very disappointing to think people would target a community organisation that's there to help everybody else," Mr Skilbeck said.

"It's quite disturbing to some of our members the fact that we've worked so hard to raise the funds to buy this equipment."

Ballarat business Alexa's Treasures donated a substantial sum of money to the Napoleons-Enfield station after hearing about the burglary.

Co-owner Gaby Mills said a few years ago State Emergency Service volunteers lent a hand when the upstairs section of the shop flooded.

"It was the most wonderful group of people who helped us and we are forever appreciating that," she said.

"These people are the heroes. They are there whenever we need them."

She said when she heard about the burglary, she could not believe someone would target emergency services and got in touch to offer the donation.

Mr Skilbeck said the donation had helped soften the blow of the burglary.

"That's going to make a huge difference in being able to raise the spirits of our brigade and to allow us to purchase equipment," he said.