UPDATE: Multiple grass fires have erupted across Victoria, with one blaze out of control, as temperatures soar. Firefighters are battling urgent conditions, with significant areas of land already scorched.
Twenty-two CFA fire units are currently engaged in combatting a grass fire near Rutherglen, supported by aerial resources. Victoria Police have been deployed to manage traffic along McPhersons Road at Lilliput as the situation escalates. Authorities confirmed that crews encountered an alarming 800 meters of active flames in a paddock, igniting approximately 40 hectares of land on December 9, 2023.
A CFA spokesperson stated, “Asset protection was initiated for nearby structures, and a message was issued to the community,” highlighting the serious threat posed to local homes. Preliminary investigations suggest that the fire was sparked by a mechanical header operating in the paddock.
The Rutherglen fire was deemed under control by 3:37 PM but remained a concern until it was declared safe at 6:18 PM.
In a related incident further north, another grass fire ignited between Walbundrie and Henty at Alma Park, consuming 246 hectares of grassland. The fire was managed by the Rural Fire Service and was reported under control by 9:30 AM on December 10, 2023.
Earlier, on December 6, 2023, the Rutherglen CFA brigade responded to an out-of-control grass fire at Browns Plains. What began as a white column of smoke escalated into a significant blaze, fueled by unharvested wheat paddocks. Approximately 30 firefighting units from both Victoria and across the border in New South Wales collaborated to contain the fire, with crews remaining on-site to monitor hot spots and burning hay stacks.
Additionally, firefighters continue to patrol a separate fire site that has tragically resulted in the destruction of two homes and damage to a third at Markwood, near Wangaratta. This blaze, which began on December 4, 2023, was reportedly sparked by unknown causes along a roadside.
As these fires pose immediate danger to communities, residents are urged to remain vigilant and heed all emergency warnings. Fire authorities are closely monitoring the situation, and quick responses from firefighters are crucial in preventing further damage.
Stay tuned for more updates as the situation develops.
