While official reports of properties lost are yet to be confirmed, a couple told The Courier their house and business was destroyed by the fire.

Lynette and Noel Frunks lost hundreds of birds and their home when their Mount Bolton Homestead and Poultry Stud was burned to the ground. The couple, whose house was nestled deep in the forest, had lived there for a number of years and are now desperately seeking homes for hundreds of day old ducklings who survived.

“We have nothing but the clothes on our backs …. not even a stick of deodorant,” Ms Frunks said. 

6.20PM: CFA has further DOWNGRADED an advice message for Addington, Mount Bolton and Learmonth.

There is currently no threat to the communities of Learmonth, Mt Bolton, and Addington but people are advised to stay informed and continue to monitor conditions.

The large grass and scrub fire is moving in an easterly direction towards Coghills Creek Road.

Traffic Management point are in place.

A community meeting will be held at the relief centre tonight – Cooinda Community Centre, 10 Learmonth Road, Wendouree at 8pm.

Smoke will be visible from nearby communities and roads.

5.30PM: Glendaruel and Coghills Creek have been issued a watch and act with a large grass and scrub fire moving in an easterly direction towards Coghills Creek Road.

A south westerly wind change is expected which will cause the fire to head in a north easterly direction towards Glendaurel. This bushfire is currently not yet under control. 

People in the Glendaruel area are advised to leave now heading in an easterly direction to the Midland Highway to the relief centre in the Cooinda Community Centre 10 Learmonth Road Wendouree

People in Coghills Creek are advised to leave now and head to the relief centre.

5.30PM: The CFA has issued a DOWNGRADED watch and act message for Mount Bolton, Addington and Learmonth.

There is a large grass scrub fire moving in an easterly direction towards Coghills Creek Road.

A south westerly wind change is expected which will cause the fire to head in a north easterly direction towards Glendarual.

There is currently no threat to the communities of Learmonth, Mount Bolton and Addington but people are advised to continue to monitor conditions and stay informed.

Traffic management points are in place check VIC roads website for details

A relief centre has opened at Cooinda Community Centre, 10  Learmonth Road Wendouree with a community meeting at 8pm.

4.50PM:  A Relief Centre has been activated at Cooinda (10 Learmonth Road Wendouree) for those people from Learmonth, Coghills Creek and Glendaruel affected by the Mount Bolton fires.

4.38PM: The latest CFA warning message was 40 minutes ago and our reporter on the ground tells us the smoke doesn’t seem to be as thick as before, suggesting crews could be getting on top of the fire.

There are still 63 tankers at the fire.

4.30PM: CFA operations manager Gavin Hope has spoken to our reporter on the ground, Olivia Shying.

Mr Hope said there were 10 strike teams comprising more than 50 tankers in all.

He said the main concern was the eastern flank of the fire, where almost all the units were situated.

He said he did not believe any houses had been lost.

“There are a couple of houses that are under observation and are being protected by the forces,” Mr Hope said.

“The cool change is slowly swinging from north to south, it’s not worse but different. We are well aware of the conditions.”

4.22PM: The following message has just been sent out by VicRoads:

“SUNRAYSIA HIGHWAY

Location: From Western Freeway, Mitchell Park To Williamson Street, Lexton

Incident Type: Fire

Traffic Impact: Road Closed

Further details: Road closed between Western Fwy and Williamson St due to fire activity

Detour via Western Hwy and Beaufort-Lexton Rd. 

Turn your headlights on in smokey conditions and leave extra space between your vehicle and the one in front.”

4:15PM: Emergency management commissioner Craig Lapsley has just given a briefing to the media: He says there have been some 115 fires around Victoria today, with Mt Bolton and Somerville the main ones of concern.

The Mt Bolton fire has affected 1300 hectares of grass and scrub and has been difficult to contain, with a change of wind from the west. 

4.05PM: There are 62 vehicles responding to the fire. Police are still trying to block off as many roads as possible in the area.

Residents in Ballarat are reporting ash falling on the property.

3.45PM: People in Learmonth have been told to head to Ballarat. The following message is from the CFA:

“There is a medium grass and scrub fire travelling fast in an easterly direction towards Coghills Creek road.

A wind change is expected between 3.30PM and 4.00PM which will cause the fire to head in a north easterly direction towards Glendaurel.

People in Glendaurel are advised to leave now heading towards Clunes.

People in Learmonth and Coghills Creek are advised to leave now and head towards Ballarat.

This grass and scrub fire is currently not yet under control.”

3.50PM: There are now 55 vehicles responding to the Mt Bolton fire.

3.40PM: Our reporter Olivia Shying is out near the fire.

She said residents are concerned about fire spotting from the Mount Bolton fire.

Some residents said they had hosed their properties and left, realising there was nothing more they could do.

3.25PM: An incoming wind change is expected to create problems for firefighters.

The following message has been issued by the CFA:

This is an Emergency Warning issued by Country Fire Authority for Mount Bolton, Addington.

There is a fast moving, out of control grass and scrub travelling in an easterly direction towards Coghills Creek Road Glendaruel.

A south westerly wind change is expected within the next 30 minutes that will cause the fire to move in a north easterly direction towards Glendaruel.

3.20PM: There are now 46 vehicles responding to the Mt Bolton fire.

3.10PM: Recapping from the CFA: This is an Emergency Warning issued by Country Fire Authority for Mount Bolton, Addington.

There is a fast moving, out of control grass and scrub travelling in a south easterly direction from Laverys Road towards Settlement Rd and the Sunraysia Highway

Spotfires and Ember Attacks are starting up to 1.5 km ahead of the main fire

You are in danger, act now to protect yourself.

It is too late to leave. The safest option is to take shelter indoors immediately.

3.04PM: Brett Boatman, the CFA's incident controller near Ballarat, told Fairfax Media the blazes near Mt Bolton is threatening houses. He does not believe any have been lost yet.

"At this stage we have got at least 60 fire trucks, a number of plant and eight aircraft attending. Our biggest area of concern is the south-west wind change that will be on the fire in about 45 minutes."

3.01PM: The fires at Evansford have both been deemed either safe or under control. However, the Mt Bolton fire is still out of control.

2.54PM: There are now 41 vehicles battling the Mt Bolton blaze, with the wind pushing the fire from the north-west.

2:48PM: Two separate fast-moving bushfires are threatening communities near Ballarat, with the CFA telling local residents it is now too late to leave.

An emergency warning – the most severe warning – was issued at 2.14pm Tuesday afternoon for a grassfire moving quickly in a south easterly direction from Laverys Road towards Settlement Rd and the Sunraysia Highway.

The fire is spotting embers about 1.5 kilometres ahead of the firefront.

A second blaze is travelling fast in a southerly direction towards McDonalds Road. It is some kilometres north of the first blaze.

Both fires are burning in pastoral areas. The closest fire to Ballarat is about 30 kilometres north of the suburbs.

2.40PM: There are now 23 vehicles battling the Mt Bolton blaze and the Sunraysia Highway is expected to be blocked soon.

2.20PM: An emergency warning has been issued for a fire at Mt Bolton, near Addington.

The warning was issued at 2.14pm today. 

There are 11 vehicles on scene at the moment.

The fire is believed to have started near Lavery’s Road and is heading south-west towards Addington Road.

The Sunraysia Highway is still open but Addington Road has been closed.

There is a separate watch and act alert issued for Evansford, about 15km north-west of Mt Bolton.

There are eight CFA units at that blaze.

The statement reads as follows:

“This is an Emergency Warning issued by Country Fire Authority for Mount Bolton, Addington.

There is a fast moving, out of control grass and scrub travelling in a south easterly direction from Laverys Road towards Settlement Rd and the Sunraysia Highway

Spotfires and Ember Attacks are starting up to 1.5 km ahead of the main fire.

You are in danger, act now to protect yourself.

It is too late to leave. The safest option is to take shelter indoors immediately.”

Close all exterior doors, windows and vents and turn off cooling systems.

Shelter in a room that has a door and or a window to the outside - It is critical to keep an eye on what is happening with the fire.

If you cannot get indoors, other last resort options include:

A large open area like a ploughed paddock, football oval or sporting reserve.

A large body of water like a dam, lake, river, the ocean or inground pool.

Try to protect yourself from the fire's heat.

Park behind a solid structure to block the fire's heat or pull over to a cleared area.

Try to position the car towards the approaching fire.

Put on your hazard lights and headlights.

Turn the engine off, close all windows and ensure that car air vents are closed.

Get down as low as possible below window level and cover up with a woolen blanket.

If you are travelling, do not enter the area, U-turn to safety.

If you are away from home, do not return.

CFA has issued the following advice:

Don't wait, leaving now is the safest option - conditions may change and get worse very quickly.

Emergency Services may not be able to help you if you decide to stay.

The home of family or friends that is away from the warning area. When driving, slow down and turn on your headlights; smoke will make it difficult to see. 

The next update is expected by 23/02/16 3:30 PM or as the situation changes.