It's not like the fire is in one spot, they're all over the place which adds to the complexities.
- CFA public information officer Sharon Mifsud
Update, Sunday 11.30am: Fires are still burning across the south-west, with at least eight of them being out-of-control.
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A CFA spokesman said brigades have had "a number of busy days, starting with the total fire ban on Friday when we had the Henty fire."
"We then had the subsequent lightening strikes that came through the district which led to a number of fires across the region yesterday," he said.
"A number of those are still not yet under control. Lightening has been the biggest issue. The fires are being managed out of the Heywood Incident Control Centre."
There is a bushfire 17 kilometres west of Heywood, near Wrights Swamp Road in the Cobboboonee, and a smaller fire two kilometres south-west of Lyons that are not yet under control.
Firefighters have managed to halt the spread of these two fires.
The Department of Environment, Land, Water & Planning issued the following advice message for Drumborg, Greenwals and Lyons at 5.40am on Sunday:
"There is currently no threat to communities, but you should continue to stay informed and monitor conditions.
"Smoke may be visible from nearby roads and communities. Numerous Forest tracks in the Cobboboonee Forest are closed."
Advice messages have also been issued for Breakaway Creek, Lake Condah, Hotspur, Bahgallah, Casterton, Digby, Killara, Mocamboro and Sandford.
Update, Saturday 5pm: ALMOST every south-west fire brigade has been deployed as several bushfires burn across the district.
The fires were started by a lightning storm on Friday night and have been exacerbated by wind conditions on Saturday, CFA public information officer Sharon Mifsud said.
"They've all started from the lightning that came through last night, there was a big band of lightning and with the wind picking up today that's sparked some of them up," she said.
"We've got four messages out for the fires at the moment. There's lots of crews out there at the moment and there's a fair bit of smoke in the area so there could be other fires in the landscapes as well.
"If people do see something that's not matching up with the VicEmergency app they can still call triple zero."
No lives or properties have been reported lost.
Ms Mifsud said people should update their fire management plans.
"It's a good reminder for people to review their survival plans," she said.
"We have just about all our brigades out there at the moment, we've only held a couple back in case there's any new incidents.
"Forest fire management crews are out there as well.
"It's not like the fire is in one spot, they're all over the place which adds to the complexities."
CFA issued an advice message for Bessiebelle, Breakaway Creek, Homerton, Lake Condah and Macarthur at 3:44pm on Saturday:
"There is a bushfire at Millard Track, Lake Condah that is not yet under control.
"The bushfire is travelling from Lake Condah in a northerly direction towards Budj Bim (Mount Eccles).
"There is currently no threat to you, but you should plan for what you will do if the situation changes."
The next update is expected by 21/12/2019 07.50 pm or as the situation changes.
An advice message was also put in place at 1:15pm on Saturday for Bahgallah, Casterton, Dartmoor, Digby, Henty, Killara, Merino, Mocamboro and Sandford for two out of control bushfires.
As of 4.53pm, three vehicles were responding to a 111-hectare bushfire at Digby-Strathdownie Road Killara not yet under control.
The bushfire was travelling from Digby-Strathdownie Road in a northerly direction towards Range Road.
As of 1.49pm, 29 vehicles responded to a small bushfire nearby.
There is currently no threat to communities.
As of 4.24pm there was an out of control bushfire 19 kilometres east of Dartmoor travelling from The Boulevard near Crawford River in a northerly direction towards Digby.
There is currently no threat to communities.
Earlier, 3pm: A watch and act message has been issued for residents in and around the Heywood area.
Drumborg, Greenwald, Heywood, Hotspur, Lyons, Milltown, Mount Richmond and West Sinclair have been warned of an out of control bushfire at Wrights Swamp Road, Cobboboonee National Park.
The bushfire is travelling from Wrights Swamp Road in a northerly direction towards Drumborg.
A CFA spokeswoman said the fire was near the Jackass Fern Gully and Fitzroy picnic and camping areas.
Forest Management Victoria issued the following warning at 2:47pm:
"Don't wait, leaving now is the safest option - conditions may change and get worse very quickly. Emergency Services may not be able to help you if you decide to stay."
What you should do:
- Monitor changes to the situation. Increased wind speed, change in wind direction, smoke or poor visibility can indicate the situation is changing.
- If you are away from home, do not return.
If the situation changes or you feel unsafe you should leave:
- Take your pets, medications, mobile phone and charger.
- Travel to the home of family or friends that are away from the warning area or to Heywood.
Emergency Services may not be able to help you if you decide to stay.
Impacts in your area:
- Bushfires can spread quickly and are extremely dangerous.
- Bushfires can start spot fires and embers large distances ahead of the main fire.
- Check the VicTraffic website (traffic.vicroads.vic.gov.au/) or call 13 11 70 for road closures.
The next update is expected by 21/12/2019 06:50 pm or as the situation changes.
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