A POWER pole was believed responsible for a fire that kept fire crews busy for more than three hours yesterday north of Peterborough.
The blaze on the Curdievale-Port Campbell Road burnt out 10 hectares of grass and scrub before it could be controlled.
The fire was reported at 8.35am and tankers from Lower Heytesbury, Timboon, Peterborough and Port Campbell attended.
Meanwhile, rain in the Grampians has helped reduce the fire that continues to burn within in containment lines in Victoria Valley. About 5mm fell at Dunkeld in the last few days, and fire services commissioner Craig Lapsley said weather assistance was very important with large fires.
“There has been minimal rain over the Grampians fires but fire activity has reduced significantly and the fire has remained within containment lines,” Mr Lapsley said.
“It is rare that a fire of this size and duration is contained without weather assistance.
“It really was the effort of the on-ground firefighters who eventually contained the fire.
“Smoke may still be evident from the fire as small sections burn within the fire perimeter.”
The fire has been burning for more than two weeks and began with lightning strikes, which ignited 20 fires in the Grampians National Park.
The Victoria Valley and Cassidy’s Gap fires are the last of those still burning.
It has burnt out more than 35,000 hectares, including 2100 hectares of grazing land and 1200 hectares of private bush.
The blaze also destroyed a hayshed, two machinery sheds, 170km of fencing, 60 sheep and 30 tonnes of hay and silage.
“There is still a high fire risk in some parts of the state, particularly in the west with warm and dry conditions continuing so communities still need to remain vigilant and keep in touch about fire activity in their areas,” Mr Lapsley said.
“But getting these fires contained is testament to the hard work of the DSE and CFA fire crews.”
Crews from New Zealand and New South Wales have helped fight the blaze. Firefighters will patrol the containment lines for the next few days, with 294 personnel, 99 firefighting vehicles and five aircraft still working in the area.