THREE of the four major fires burning across the south-west are now contained – almost 48 hours after they started.
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The Hawkesdale, Garvoc and Camperdown blazes are continuing to burn within containment lines but the Terang fire is not yet classified as being under control.
A Colac incident control centre spokeswoman said more than 300 fire crews were working on the Terang and Camperdown fires on Monday, with over 100 expected to work overnight.
The spokeswoman said the Terang fire had had no running edge since Sunday morning, but a watch and act message remained in place for the surrounding area as firefighters waited on an expected south-easterly wind change on Tuesday morning.
“They have a really good handle on it,” the spokeswoman said.
The Camperdown fire was contained, she said, and not presenting a threat to communities, although an advice message remained in place.
A Warrnambool incident control centre spokeswoman said that more than 170 firefighters had continued to work on the Hawkesdale and Garvoc fires on Monday.
She said 123 firefighters were involved with the Garvoc fire, with 15 tankers, and the fire had covered 4064 hectares.
The Gazette fire in the Hawkesdale region had burnt 3528 hectares and there were 46 firefighters and seven tankers working on the blaze.
She said there had been “multiple small assets” lost on Monday but none were houses.
The spokeswoman said estimated loses from the fires were 18 houses, more than 40 sheds and significant stock losses.
Victoria Police arson squad members travelled to the south-west and are conducting investigations.
The Hawkesdale, Garvoc and Terang fires are suspected of being started by electrical assets. The cause of the Camperdown fire is yet to be determined but is not believed to be suspicious.
Detective Sergeant Mark James, of Hamilton police, said the Hawkesdale fire was believed to have been started by a power pole.
Detective Sergeant Andrew Raven, of Warrnambool police, said initial investigations pointed towards electrical assets being the cause of the Garvoc and Terang fires.
He said there were no reports of anyone missing.