Lightning strikes caused fires throughout the Wimmera and Grampians regions in the past week.
Lightning strikes caused fires throughout the Wimmera and Grampians regions in the past week.
Country Fire Authority, Department of Sustainability and Environment and Parks Victoria crews had more than 200 personnel working to contain the blazes.
Horsham Incident Control Centre public information officer Jenny McGennisken said Horsham Incident Control Centre had dealt with 26 fires, with seven still classed as 'going' late yesterday.
She said equipment included the Elvis air crane, water bombers, fire spotters, helicopters and trucks.
Ms McGennisken said the group issued an emergency warning and emergency alert because of a fast-moving Grampians-Jensens Road bushfire north of Dunkeld.
She said the fire could impact on the town of Mirranatwa and the Southern Grampians Shire Council had opened a relief centre at Hamilton's senior citizens club.
Ms McGennisken said the fire had spread to more than 300 hectares by yesterday afternoon.
She said crews had contained another large Grampians fire, at Grampians-Clutterbucks Road.
The fire had burnt 837 hectares by yesterday afternoon.
Ms McGennisken said the fire had threatened a home and the owners put their fire plan in action.
She said the fire missed the house.
Ms McGennisken said there had also been several fires in the Little Desert National Park, near Kaniva.
She said the largest was almost 850 hectares.
"As of Friday night they were all controlled by bulldozers and DSE staff,'' she said.
Ms McGennisken said the fires served as a warning to people.
"Summer's not over yet,'' she said.
"It's the middle of February and there's still a lot of fire action.
"We remind people to be vigilant and have a fire plan ready.''
Ms McGennisken said people could visit www.dse.vic.gov.au/fires and www.cfa.vic.gov.au, plus the fire authority's Facebook and Twitter pages for up-to-date information.
