Volunteer firefighters have been praised after saving two houses and several sheds after multiple grassfires broke out along an 11-kilometre stretch of the Loddon Valley Highway near Macorna today, 9 November.
District 20 Assistant Chief Fire Officer Steve Pitcher said a local CFA captain has come across the first fire and reported it just before 12pm.
Some 26 CFA units responded to the incidents from brigades across the local area.
Firefighters arrived to locate fires impacting crops, grass and scrub; some of which were up to approximately 50 hectares in size.
ACFO Pitcher said that after some fantastic work to contain the fires and property protection, crews secured multiple properties and structures that were initially under threat.
"It just goes to show that in parts of District 20 and the North West, we are getting into that Fire Danger Period and despite some rain, the fuel is available and ready to burn and carries quite well in some of that grassland," ACFO Pitcher said.
"It's a reminder to take care and to keep up maintenance of farm machinery."
The scene was declared under control at around 2.10pm and crews remained on scene to extinguish the remaining fires.
The fires are understood to have started by agricultural machinery that was generating sparks while being driven along the highway.
Forest Fire Management Victoria responded to support on scene and Victoria Police assisted with traffic management.
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