TAHARA residents are counting their blessings after emergency services stopped an out-of-control grassfire that burned more than 380 hectares at the weekend.

John Pepper, whose home was directly in the fire’s path said local crews - including his own Tahara Fire Brigade – standing alongside other emergency services and Forest Fire Management Victoria, did an exceptional job in protecting the community from the blaze which had the potential for a tragic outcome.

“We were in the paddock where it started, it got going and we just couldn’t stop it,” Mr Pepper said.

“Where I live is on the other side of Peppers Road from where the fire was, but it burnt right up to the bitumen.

“Where my son Jamie lives is on the other side, the fire side and it burnt right up to his back yard.

“The CFA, everybody, just went into asset protection mode … the fire just kept starting up, re-starting all the time (but) there were just trucks here, ready to go and with plenty of men, plenty of trucks and all the support … they stopped it.”

Tahara residents were given notice to evacuate immediately, at 1.25pm on Sunday after the grassfire, believed to be a flare-up from another fire on the Thursday before, was pushed in a south-easterly direction towards homes, by strong winds.

A combined effort with resources from the Country Fire Authority (CFA), Forest Fire Management Victoria, Southern Grampians Shire Council, Victoria State Emergency Service, Victoria Police and Ambulance Victoria at the fireground saw crews tackling the blaze from land and sky with 160 firefighters supported by four water bombers, one helicopter and two large air tankers.

They battled the blaze for more than three hours, until it was stopped within containment lines.

CFA District five commander, Robert Howell said the blaze had been investigated and was not considered suspicious but offered a timely reminder to anyone burning-off, that remnants of a blaze could light a fire well after the burn.

“Any burn-offs done a month ago or more can bring a fire to light,” he said.

Dundas Group Deputy Group Officer, Duncan Macgugan said while the blaze was under control, crews continued to mop up and warned the public to steer clear of the affected area, for now.

“Members of the public should stay away from the area as work is continuing – felling trees, restoring power infrastructure, repairing fencing, and patrolling the fire edge,” he said.

And while around 600 acres of the burned pasture is on Mr Pepper’s land, he said things could have been “much, much worse”.

“We lost four cows and half a dozen sheep, not a lot of stock,” he said.

“We were wanting to save the house … if (the fire) had got over the road, if they hadn’t been able to use that as a buffer, I don’t know where it would have ended up.”

Mr Pepper said some heavy machinery remained on his property, monitoring plantation and scrub trees which continued to smolder and burn, but he was confident the immediate threat to his home and stock, was gone.

Tahara Cricket Club took to social media on Sunday night, praising the community for its collective effort in protecting residents and their properties from the fire.

“The CFA did a bloody amazing job in responding so quickly and then their emergency management of the fire was brilliant. Everyone involved can be super proud of their efforts and without them things would have been a lot worse.

The players at the club have put their hands up to assist with any of the clean up so if there’s anyone in the area who’s been affected please let us know and we’ll help out with whatever we can.

Tahara is an amazing place and the community is strong- well done to everyone involved .”

For more information or to take up the offer of assistance, visit the club’s Facebook page.