A grass and wood heap fire in Spring Hill saw 23 CFA units respond to keep it contained.
At around 4pm on Tuesday, May 20, units worked to stop the spread of a fire along Kyneton Spring Hill Road.
CFA said the owner of the property assisted in establishing a mineral earth break around the wood heaps.
CFA said the incident was deemed under control at 5.13pm, and safe by 7pm.
Kyneton Fire Brigade Lieutenant Tristian Smith said in a statement that crews have responded to multiple escaped burn-offs in the region.
“We are urging the community to hold off on burning unless absolutely necessary,” he said.
“Too many fires are being lit without water nearby, without cleared breaks, and without anyone staying to monitor. We’re now in a pattern of callouts that could have been avoided.”
Conditions around Kyneton and surrounds remain usually dry, with the Fire Danger Rating for Sunday, May 25 forecast to reach high, which is rarely seen in May.
In the past month, Lt Smith said local brigades have responded to a surge of escaped burn-offs across the Macedon Ranges, with many of those resulted in dozens of hectares burned and required multiple tankers to bring under control.
This means crews have been re-tasked from other calls, delaying responses to genuine emergencies.
“If you light it, you’re responsible for it,” Lt Smith said.
“That includes what happens hours later or even the next day.”
Lt Smith recommends postponing non-urgent burn-offs until conditions improve.
Register your burn at firepermits.vic.gov.au
