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WIMMERA fire authorities fought three grass fires in searing heat yesterday.
The first fire started about 11.20am on Sandsmere Hall Road, 13 kilometres north-north-east of Kaniva.
Country Fire Authority District 17 duty officer Peter Bell said the fire was on private property and fire investigators were determining the cause. The fire burnt about 40 hectares.
A second fire broke out about 3.40pm on Tooan-Mitre Road, 14 kilometres west-south-west of Natimuk.
Deputy incident controller Trevor Ebbels, at Horsham Incident Control Centre, said the fire was contained by about 4.30pm.
Mr Ebbels said authorities did not believe the fire was suspicious but fire investigators were at the scene. The fire burnt about eight hectares.
A third grass fire started just before 5pm on Edenhope-Penola Road, in the Langkoop-Apsley area.
Authorities issued a Watch and Act alert for Langkoop when the Mail-Times went to press before 6pm.