As temperatures drop and heaters are turned up, the CFA is warning people to beware of fire hazards.
A “spike in heating-related fires” made winter a busy time for firefighters, according to CFA chief officer Steve Warrington.
“As the weather cools down, people bring out their heaters, turn on their electric blankets and stoke up their wood fires,” Mr Warrington said.
Mount Macedon CFA brigade lieutenant Adam Damen said house fires from fireplaces were particularly prevalent in the Macedon Ranges.
Last week Mr Damen attended a house fire in Mount Macedon which appeared to have been caused by hot coals being disposed of at the side of the house.
He said CFA crews found a “significant fire burning underneath the house” about 4.36pm on Sunday, July 16.
No one was injured in the blaze.
Mr Damen advised residents to check chimneys, make sure fireplaces were clear of hazards and to dispose of hot coals and ashes carefully.
Last year, 18 preventable house fires were attended by the CFA in the Macedon Ranges, according figures released by the CFA last week.
This number marked an improvement on the 20 preventable residential fires the CFA was called out to in 2015.
