Fire crews battle burning mulch pile
MACHINERY has been lost in a fire at Moriac after flames broke out at an excavation site.
Fire crews were called to a mulch and grass fire at Digga Demolitions and Excavations off Cape Otway Rd, near Lowndes Rd, about 2.45pm yesterday.
A CFA spokeswoman said four CFA water-bombing helicopters were called in to help 11 manned CFA trucks.
At 4.30pm the fire was still out of control with more than 10,000 cubic metres of mulch burning.
“It appears machinery is involved but we do have numerous trucks on scene ... and we currently have four aircraft assisting,” the spokeswoman said.
A CFA Advice message was issued to residents in Modewarre and Moriac, with smoke in the area. About 8pm, the fire was still not under control, and 17 CFA vehicles and two aircraft were at the scene, a state control centre spokeswoman said.
Firefighters also worked to extinguish a grass fire at Lara after it broke out in the afternoon beside the Princes Freeway near Rennie St. Lara CFA captain Roger Buckle said the cause of the Lara fire was yet to be determined.
“It was right on the edge of the freeway so it might have been started by something thrown out of a car or from the exhaust of the vehicle,” he said.
“We had 12 volunteers and five staff manned at Lara due to the weather conditions so they were able to respond quickly, along with the support of Little River and Corio crews as well.
“An area about 50m by 50m was burned.”