Firefighters and waterbombing aircraft continue to battle a fast moving grassfire which has spread into nearby bushland and forest in Flowerdale which started Tuesday afternoon (21 February) and is not yet under control.
Update as at 7:55am on 24 Feb 2023.
Nine Victoria aircraft are currently working on the fire.
The fire has grown to more than 990Ha in size as at 7:00am on 24 February.
There are currently two warnings in place relating to this grassfire:
Watch and Act – Stay Near Shelter was issued at 5:54am today Flowerdale, Strath Creek and Break O'Day.
Community Information was issued at 11:42am yesterday for Break O'Day, Castella, Clonbinane, Dixons Creek, Flowerdale, Glenburn, Homewood, Kinglake, Kinglake Central, Kinglake East, Kinglake West, Murrindindi, Pheasant Creek, Reedy Creek, St Andrews, Steels Creek, Strath Creek, Strathewen, Toolangi and Yea.
The Kinglake community may see smoke in the area, due to the expected wind conditions coming from the north and backburning activities on the southeast side of the fire.
Smoke may still be visible across the Eastern suburbs of Mlebourne this afternoon and the Northern suburbs into this evening.
The fire is in steep and inaccessible country, spreading into forested areas.
More than 50 CFA units have responded to this incident since it was first reported at 2.40pm on 21 February, with FFMVic crews have also been supporting.
There has also been a significant response from our aerial firefighting appliances to support ground crews.
There are no confirmed loss of homes at this stage in part due to early asset protection by firefighters. There are impacts to fencing and sheds but the extent of the damage is not yet known.
An Incident Control Centre has been established at Alexandra.
The Fire Danger Rating for North Central on Friday is High.