Busy weekend for CFA firefighters

Thursday’s fire started in Buninyong about 10km south of Ballarat, before burning from bushland to grassland and threatening the small township of Scotsburn. Evacuations were ordered, with 33 residents signing in at the relief centre at Buninyong Football Netball Club.

The fire was brought under control at around 11pm, however firefighters remained on duty on the Friday with strong winds and high temperatures.

The same winds were a factor in a fast moving grassfire near Little River on Friday, with residents evacuated from the township west of Melbourne.

Crews from about 50 trucks including multiple strike teams as well as air support fought the blaze which destroyed several sheds before being brought under control on Friday evening.

Meanwhile, firefighters in the state’s east were able to contain a fire that started on Friday near Seacombe in Gippsland.

Crews worked through the night to stop the blaze with ground crews supported by aircraft and helicopters.

 “It’s reflective of what our environment offers up now,” Buninyong Incident Controller Brett Boatman told media on Friday.

“We have had one of the driest winters on record and a dry spring followed by late spring rain which has slowed the progression of the fire season down.

“But the underlying dryness in the environment is still there  and we are saying very loudly and clearly to the community that we are in fire season. Summer is here and people need to be aware of conditions.”

The below Buninyong fire photos are courtesy of Belmont, Doreen, Haddon, Shelford, and Winchelsea fire brigades.

The below Little River fire photos are courtesy of Keith Pakenham AFSM and Doreen and Freshwater Creek fire brigades.