A bushfire that destroyed a house in Victoria’s southwest has been controlled.
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“The fire is burning slowly, it’s really just the rocky and steep terrain that’s stopping us getting in there and finishing the job off”, CFA spokesman James Todd said.
Spot fires and ember attack are starting up to 2.5km ahead of the main fire.
An updated emergency warning was issued at 8:24am for Benloch, Pastoria East and Baynton East.
Emergency Management Commissioner Craig Lapsley yesterday said bushfire was “very difficult” to control, especially in the heat and strong winds.
Their 100-acre rental property is surrounded by a section of the Cobaw State Forest, which was ravaged by the fire on Tuesday.
The fire is hitting or about to hit Kitchenhams Road between Frosts Road and Feeneys Road/Malones Road.
The Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has also ordered an investigation into how the planned burn broke containment lines.
“I can fully appreciate they’re angry and they are perfectly right to be angry”, Mr Andrews told ABC Radio. “We have got a much earlier fire season”.
A large air tanker was on its way from Richmond RAAF base in Sydney to help tackle the fire.
Despite a cool change, the fire grew in size overnight to more than 3000 hectares with 200 firefighters battling to protect about 250 homes are in the affected fire area, with 12 at immediate risk.
“It’s fire with a few threat attached to it”, he said.
Edgar’s Mission Farm Sanctuary in Lancefield was thankful for a narrow escape after a wind change about 5pm turned the flames away from the not-for-profit animal shelter.
‘The fire is not yet under control.
Firefighters were able to control the blaze before it reached a nearby steel plant, and police are treating that fire as suspicious.
About 300 firefighters, backed by fire-bombing aircraft, will return to the fire front today.
It is travelling in a north-north-westerly direction from Burke and Wills Track towards Youngs Road, Frosts Road and Nicholls Lane.
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The alert has been downgraded so residents in the line of the fire no longer need to evacuate.
