9PM UPDATE: The Stony Rises fire, which continues to burn through country east of Cobden, is believed to have started in several places.
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The Country Fire Authority confimed to The Standard tonight that the blaze, which now covers 450 hectares, is thought to have two separate ignition points.
Police have been called in to investigate the fire which began about 3pm in the Scoullers Road area, south of Mount Porndon.
More than 30 fire fighting units and six aircraft, including helicopters, were called in to tackle the fire in what officials described as difficult country and in strong, gusty winds.
Communities in the Bungador, Carpendeit, Cobden, Cowleys Creek, Elingamite, Glenfyne, Jancourt East, Koallah, Scotts Creek, Simpson, South Purrumbete, Swan Marsh, Tandarook, Tandarook South and Tesbury were placed on alert late this afternoon.
The fire burnt through grassland from Scoullers Road to Ansons Road, with crews working hard to successfully save three houses that were threatened near the corner of Ansons Road and the Cobden-Stoneyford Road.
The CFA has advised there is currently no threat to communities, but residents should continue to monitor conditions and stay informed of updates.
Heavy earth-moving equipment has been brought in to cut control lines on the southern flank of the fire at Carpendeit and fire fighters will continue to work overnight to control the blaze.
Their efforts come as the Bureau of Meteorology forecasts temperatures in the mid to high 30s tomorrow and Friday and up to 40 degrees on Saturday.
Road closures are still in place in the area at:
- Cobden- Stonyford Road at the Princes Highway
- Craigs Lane at the Princes Highway
- Cobden- Stonyford Road and Camperdown-Cobden Road
- Koalla and Cobden-Stonyford Roads
- Carpendeit and Scoullers Roads
A relief centre in Camperdown's Theatre Royal has now been closed.
7.00PM UPDATE: FIREFIGHTERS have stopped the spread of the Stonyford grassfire and there is no longer any threat to communities in the area, but the fire is still burning out of control.
The CFA downgraded the Watch and Act Warning for the fire to an advice message just before 7pm.
There is no longer any threat to Carpendeit, Cobden, Koallah, South Purrumbete, Tandarook, Tandarook South or Tesbury, but residents in the area are advised to monitor conditions.
The Cobden-Stonyford Road, Ansons Road, Koallah Road and surrounding tracks are still closed.
An Advice message is still in place for Bungador, Jancourt East, Simpson, Swan Marsh, Cowleys Creek, Curdies River, Elingamite, Glenfyne, Scotts Creek.
A CFA spokeswoman said the fire was burning in private farmland in difficult country. She said the fire was being pushed in a south-westerly direction.
She said 32 vehicles and seven aircraft were working to contain the blaze.
Smoke from the fire is visible over Warrnambool and surrounding areas.
Stay Informed:
Via www.cfa.vic.gov.au.
Tune to ABC Local Radio, commercial and designated community radio stations or Sky News TV.
Deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech/communication impairment can contact VBIL via the National Relay Service on 1800 555 677.
Download the FireReady App and follow CFA on Twitter or Facebook.
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6.10PM UPDATE: The CFA says the Stonyford fire is travelling towards the South Purrumbete, Tesbury and Bostocks Creek areas
An updated Watch and Act warning has been issued for Carpendeit, Cobden, Koallah, South Purrumbete, Tandarook, Tandarook South, Tesbury.
They say Firefighters have been unable to stop the fire which has crossed Ansons Road and Koallah Road.
The Cobden-Stonyford Road, Ansons Road, Koallah Road and surrounding tracks are closed.
A Relief Centre is set up at The Theatre, 218 Manifold Street Camperdown.
Smoke is visible from as far away as Warrnambool.
Stay Informed:
Via www.cfa.vic.gov.au.
Tune to ABC Local Radio, commercial and designated community radio stations or Sky News TV.
Deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech/communication impairment can contact VBIL via the National Relay Service on 1800 555 677.
Download the FireReady App and follow CFA on Twitter or Facebook.
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6.00PM UPDATE: THE fast moving grassfire in the Cobden district is now estimated to be 430 hectares in size.
Fixed wing aircraft are helping about 30 ground crews battle the blaze which is still heading in an westerly direction in difficult terrain.
An updated Watch and Act warning is in place for Carpendeit, Cobden, Koallah, South Purrumbete, Tandarook, Tandarook South, Tesbury
An advice message has been issued for Curdies River, Cowleys Creek, Glenfyne, Scotts Creek and Elingamite, Jancourt East, Swan Marsh, Simpson and Bungador.
An incident control centre has been set up at Colac to manage the fire fighting effort, while a relief centre has been set up at the Killara centre in Camperdown for residents.
Stay Informed:
Via www.cfa.vic.gov.au.
Tune to ABC Local Radio, commercial and designated community radio stations or Sky News TV.
Deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech/communication impairment can contact VBIL via the National Relay Service on 1800 555 677.
Download the FireReady App and follow CFA on Twitter or Facebook.
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5.40PM UPDATE: The Watch and Act warning has been upgraded to include Carpendeit, Cobden, Koallah, South Purrumbete, Tandarook, Tandarook South, Tesbury.
The CFA says the fire has crossed Ansons Road and Koollah Road and is still moving quickly, in a westerly direction.
The Cobden-Stonyford Road, Ansons Road, Koallah Road and surrounding tracks are closed.
The CFA says leaving is the safest option for people in the area because conditions might change and get worse very quickly.
Smoke is visable from as far away as Allansford, the CFA says when driving, slow down and turn on your headlights because smoke will make it difficult to see.
Stay Informed:
Via www.cfa.vic.gov.au.
Tune to ABC Local Radio, commercial and designated community radio stations or Sky News TV.
Call the
(VBIL) on freecall 1800 240 667.
Deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech/communication impairment can contact VBIL via the National Relay Service on 1800 555 677.
Download the FireReady App and follow CFA on Twitter or Facebook.
Road Closures: check VicRoadswebsite.
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5.15PM UPDATE: SIX aircraft and 31 vehicles are battling a fast-moving grass fire in the Stony Rises area.
The Country Fire Authority says the blaze, which has reached 50 hectares in size, is burning in countryside that is difficult to work in.
The fire is now travelling in a westerly direction from Scoullers Road and the Cobden-Stonyford Road towards Carpendeit and South Purrumbete.
The CFA has issued a Watch and Act message for Carpendeit, Cobden, South Purrumbete and Stonyford.
An advice message has been issued for the Bungador, Jancourt East, Simpson and Swan Marsh areas.
The Cobden-Stonyford Road is closed at the corner of the Princes Highway at Stonyford and at Ansons Road, South Purrumbete.
The CFA has warned that smoke will be visible from nearby communities and roads.
There are reports of smoke from the fire impacting on Allansford.
The cause of the fire is unknown.
Safety Information:
If you have time, check your neighbours to see if they are monitoring conditions.
Contact a family member or friend to tell them what you plan to do.
Stay Informed:
Via www.cfa.vic.gov.au.
Tune to ABC Local Radio, commercial and designated community radio stations or Sky News TV.
Deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech/communication impairment can contact VBIL via the National Relay Service on 1800 555 677.
Download the FireReady App and follow CFA on Twitter or Facebook.
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EARLIER: The Country Fire Authority has issued a Watch and Act message for Carpendeit, Cobden, South Purrumbete and Stonyford.
A fast moving grassfire is travelling in a westerly direction from Scoullers Road and Cobden Road-Stonyford towards Carpendeit and South Purrumbete.
Cobden-Stonyford Road is closed from the Princes Highway to Ansons Road.
About 30 CFA units are either fighting or rushing to the scene of the fire.
An incident control centre is being set up at Colac to manage the fire fighting effort, while a relief centre is being set up at the Killara centre in Camperdown for residents.
The CFA says leaving is the safest option for people in the area because conditions might change and get worse very quickly.
The warning message says when driving, slow down and turn on your headlights; smoke will make it difficult to see.
The next update is expected by 6pm or as the situation changes.
Safety Information:
If you have time, check your neighbours to see if they are monitoring conditions.
Contact a family member or friend to tell them what you plan to do.
Stay Informed:
Via www.cfa.vic.gov.au.
Tune to ABC Local Radio, commercial and designated community radio stations or Sky News TV.
Deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech/communication impairment can contact VBIL via the National Relay Service on 1800 555 677.
Download the FireReady App and follow CFA on Twitter or Facebook.