A GRASS fire that was started by a harvester during operation on New Year’s Eve has burnt over 180 hectares from the corner of Cavendish-Glendinning Road and East West Road at Mooralla and crossing over Luhrs Road.

Coleraine and Cavendish acting police sergeant, Paul McLean, said “the call came in at exactly 12.58pm that a harvester had caught on fire which quickly started a grass fire that got out of control extending just over 3 kilometres in a southwest direction towards Cavendish,” he said.

The header was destroyed as was approximately 20 kilometres of fencing across farming properties, with a handful of sheep killed.

In total, 32 Country Fire Authority (CFA) trucks joined Mooralla’s Fire Brigade, to battle the fire from several district fire groups including, Dundas, Balmoral, Nareen, Mount Rouse, Hawkesdale and Merri.

CFA District Commander David Ferguson said that fighting the fire was a joint effort by several agencies.

“Two air bombers with an air supervisor higher above, as well as a large air tanker from Avalon, made a considerable impact to the effort,” he said.

“Forest Fire Management, local police and Southern Grampians Shire also made a significant contribution to the fire effort and cleanup, as well as road closures, signage, barriers and assessment of hazardous trees,” he said.

Local resident Greg McAdam was at his home nearby when the fire started and was keeping up to date with the firefighting progress and said he was confident that the CFA volunteers would quickly have it under control.

Acting Sgt Paul McLean said that although the fire was almost all but out by 3.30pm there is still a lot of work that goes into the cleanup.

The East-West Road was closed for safety reason except to residents as was the Cavendish-Glendenning Road, Luhrs Road and Montana Road which was closed over the weekend whilst the cleanup was underway.

“Once the fire has been extinguished there’s quite a bit of work that needs to be done including cutting down ‘killer trees’,” Act Sgt McLean said.

“Trees that have been burnt out or partially burnt out on the edge of the road present a risk of falling onto vehicles or blocking the road, or trees on properties might still be smouldering can spark another fire in days or even weeks ahead.

“As usual, the CFA volunteers have done a fantastic job.”

Another large grass fire that started over the weekend north-west of Casterton toward the South Australian border was also still burning at Langkoop, Poolaijelo, Powers Creek last night within areas of a private plantation near Ryans Road.

Fire crews with heavy machinery continued to work throughout last night and the threat has been reduced with the spread held within containment lines.