By Chetan Sharma
Firefighters remain on the ground north-west of Melbourne after a fast-moving grassfire near Clarkefield triggered Victoria’s highest emergency warning, forcing authorities to tell some residents it was “too late to leave” and that they should immediately seek shelter indoors. While changing winds have helped crews slow the fire’s advance, officials say the incident is still active and conditions could change quickly.
The blaze ignited near Clarkefield, northeast of Sunbury, before racing across dry grassland during hot, windy weather. Emergency authorities estimate the fire has burned about 300 hectares. At its peak, firefighters said they were unable to stop the head of the fire because of strong winds and extremely dry vegetation.
Although crews have made progress since the most dangerous period of the afternoon, residents are continuing to monitor official warnings as fire behaviour remains unpredictable.
Emergency warnings issued across several communities
The highest-level Emergency Warning was issued for Bolinda, Clarkefield and Darraweit Guim, where emergency services instructed people that it was too dangerous to evacuate and they should take shelter inside a solid building immediately.
As the grassfire expanded, emergency alerts also covered nearby communities including:
- Clarkefield
- Wildwood
- Mickleham
- Beveridge
- Donnybrook Road
- Mandalay Estate
VicEmergency warned that the fire was moving through a dangerous corridor north of Melbourne, prompting an extensive emergency response involving ground crews and aircraft.
Residents in affected areas are being urged to continue checking VicEmergency for the latest warning levels, incident maps and emergency advice as conditions evolve.
Wind shift gives firefighters a chance to strengthen containment
John Deering from the Gisborne Incident Control Centre told ABC Radio Melbourne that a southerly wind change provided crews with a valuable opportunity to gain ground against the fire.
According to Deering, the shift caused sections of the fire to burn back into already burnt areas, reducing its forward momentum and allowing firefighters to reinforce containment lines.
Emergency crews also confirmed one home came under direct threat but was successfully protected. Firefighters have continued defending caravan storage facilities and nearby rural properties while preparing for another forecast wind change later in the evening.
Authorities say the improved conditions are encouraging but have cautioned that strong winds can rapidly change the direction and intensity of a grassfire.
Dozens of firefighting crews deployed
More than 54 firefighting vehicles, supported by helicopters and fixed-wing water-bombing aircraft, responded to the incident as smoke spread across parts of northern Melbourne.
Large smoke plumes were visible from suburbs including Calder Park while aerial crews targeted active fire fronts identified through thermal imaging and surveillance flights.
Macedon Ranges Mayor Kate Kendall said the fire began in a relatively lightly populated rural district, giving many landowners enough time to move livestock before flames reached nearby paddocks.
Hume City councillor Jarrod Bell described the area between Sunbury and Craigieburn as a green wedge landscape made up mainly of hobby farms and open grazing land rather than dense residential development.
Residents acted quickly to protect animals and property
Many local residents began evacuating animals soon after emergency warnings were issued.
Greyhound rehoming operator Faye Ridis said she relocated dozens of dogs from Mickleham Lodge using specially equipped vehicles and trailers. She remained at the property temporarily to care for several litters of puppies that could not safely be moved immediately.
Clarkefield farmer Andrew described rapidly changing conditions as he assisted emergency crews by using an excavator to create fire breaks around vulnerable areas.
The response demonstrated how quickly grassfires can threaten farms and rural businesses during periods of extreme fire danger.
Why fire danger remains exceptionally high
The Bureau of Meteorology says Victoria is experiencing its driest start to a year since 2009. Combined with prolonged dry weather, low humidity and strong north-westerly winds, vegetation across much of the state has become highly flammable.
Forecast temperatures reached around 32°C in Melbourne and close to 40°C in Mildura, while Total Fire Bans remained in force across much of Victoria.
Senior meteorologist Kevin Parkyn said the combination of heat, wind and exceptionally dry fuels significantly increases the risk of fast-moving grassfires that can spread with little warning.
Other fires remain active across Victoria
The Clarkefield emergency comes as firefighters continue responding to several other bushfires across Victoria, including incidents near Carlisle River in the Otways, Longwood in central Victoria and Walwa in the state’s north-east.
Emergency agencies continue monitoring those fires while weather conditions remain favourable for further fire activity.
For more Australian emergency developments, see our coverage of major public safety alerts affecting communities.
What residents should do
Emergency authorities continue advising people in affected districts to follow official instructions without delay. Grassfires can change direction quickly, particularly when winds shift.
- Remain indoors if your area is under an Emergency Warning.
- Monitor VicEmergency for the latest updates and incident maps.
- Avoid travelling into affected areas unless essential.
- Prepare for possible power outages and road closures.
- Move livestock early if conditions allow.
While firefighters have slowed the fire’s advance, officials stress that the emergency has not yet been fully resolved. With another wind change possible and extremely dry conditions continuing across Victoria, emergency services are urging residents to remain alert until authorities declare the fire contained.
An Emergency Warning has been issued for residents north of Melbourne as a fast-moving grassfire burns out of control near Clarkefield, triggering
Source: ABC News Emergency warning issued for grassfire near Sunbury, north of Melbourne
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