Emergency warning issued for grassfire near Sunbury, north of Melbourne
A grassfire has destroyed a number of caravans and damaged others at a storage yard north of Melbourne.
At the peak of the fire, an Emergency Warning was issued for a number of communities surrounding Clarkefield, north-east of Sunbury.
Residents were urged to shelter indoors until a wind change and firefighting efforts stopped its spread.
Some caravans were damaged by the grassfire at Clarkefield. (Supplied: Andrew Morley)
Another Watch and Act warning in the state's west, for resident in Mount Mercer, near Meredith, has been downgraded to an Advice-level warning.
Authorities said a grassfire was travelling from Grahams Road and Gumley Road in a easterly direction towards Shelford-Mt Mercer Road.
Firefighters save property
John Deering from the Gisborne Incident Control Centre told ABC Radio Melbourne a wind change had provided some relief.
"[The wind is] coming more from the south. That's actually assisted efforts on the ground," he said.
"We’re going okay out there, the fires actually burning back on itself a little bit."
He said one house had come under threat but firefighter were able to save it.
"There's a couple of caravan storage areas out there that we’re conscious of and we’re doing our best to protect those," he said.
However, photos and footage supplied to the ABC showed the wreckage of some burnt out vans and others with what appeared to be heat damage.
A second wind change is expected later tonight but Mr Deering said he had a "level of confidence about being able to contain this fire hopefully later today".
Thermal drone footage of a grassfire at Clarkefield north of Melbourne. (Vic Emergency)
Earlier, Macedon Ranges Mayor, Kate Kendall, told ABC Radio Melbourne the location where the fire started was not very populated, but those who did have properties in the area acted swiftly to move livestock.
She said more than 50 fire crews responded to the blaze.
Councillor Jarrod Bell from neighbouring Hume City Council said there were lots of hobby farms in the area.
He said it moved through what council referred to as its 'green wedge zone' that split Hume into the two urban centres of Sunbury and Craigieburn.
He said the area had not had much rainfall in recent times.
"Other than a couple of days ago, the last time we had rain was about a month and a half ago and it is incredibly dry," he said.
The fire broke out in an area which included hobby farms. (ABC News)
Residents evacuate while others stay
Faye Ridis, who owns the Mickleham Lodge, where she breeds dogs and operates a greyhound rehoming program, said she was hopeful rain would help the fire field.
"Over at the Oaklands estate I can see flames quite high there in one spot," she said when the fire was still burning out of control.
She said she received a message from the CFA before calling friends to help her evacuate all the dogs on her property.
"We've got a van with cages, a proper set up for dogs and a dog trailer … we've also got a cattle trailer so all that got loaded," she said.
"I've chosen to stay because I've got three litters of pups in the welcome room that can't be moved."
At the peak of the fire, an emergency warning was issued for Clarkefield, Wildwood, Mickleham, Beveridge, Donnybrook Road and Mandalay Estate. (ABC News)
Andrew, who has two farms in Clarkfield, told ABC Radio Melbourne he helped fire authorities with his excavator.
"It's pretty hairy at the moment, it is all the way around us … it's literally everywhere I look," he said during the afternoon.
"It blew through but now the wind has changed and it's coming back on us."
The weather bureau had warned hot, north-westerly winds coupled with the driest start to the year since 2009 would elevate the fire danger risk across the state today.
"It's the hot north-westerly winds in combination with the parched landscape that's elevating the fire danger risk across Victoria," Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) senior meteorologist Kevin Parkyn said on Tuesday.
Firefighters battled a grassfire at Clarkefield. (Supplied: Andrew Morley)
Smoke from the blaze at Sunbury was visible from Calder Park, in Melbourne's north-west. (ABC News: Joanne Woods)
Authorities had warned some parts of the state would experience extreme fire danger, with strong winds and dry conditions.
A total fire ban was declared for much of the state, extending across all districts except the South West and East Gippsland.
Temperatures were forecast to reach 32 degree Celsius in Melbourne and 40C in Mildura.
A number of bushfires that destroyed homes and threatened communities across the state in January continue to burn, including the Carlisle River fire in the Otways, the Longwood blaze in central Victoria and Walwa fire in the north-east.