The cause of an out-of-control grassfire that threatened homes north of Ballarat is under police investigation and it would not have been contained without aerial support, firefighters say.
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The blaze took about three hours to control and burnt through more than 250 hectares after crews were first out called out to the scene in Smeaton about 3pm on Saturday.
It’s believed the fire – the biggest to hit the Ballarat region this summer – started on a bend of the Creswick-Newstead Road, prompting Victoria Police and DELWP fire experts to launch a joint investigation.
CFA District 15 operations officer Kade Downie said on Sunday that 20 tankers, an orange air crane, two fast helicopters and two fixed wing air craft pounced on the fire early.
An air crane was based in Lethbridge on Thursday and Friday but had been moved back to Melbourne by Saturday.
“The difference between us stopping the fire and not stopping it was the aerial support,” Mr Downie said.
“We, as an organisation, were concerned that the fire had significant potential to impact on local communities and that’s why the warnings were issued.”
Residents in Campbelltown, Cotswold, Glengower, Moolort, Smeaton, Strathlea and Ullina had been told to shelter indoors immediately as the fast-moving fire tore through farmland in a northerly direction.
"You are in danger, act now to protect yourself. It is too late to leave. The safest option is to take shelter indoors immediately," authorities warned.
The water bombing air fleet eventually contained the head of the fire before ground crews turned their hoses on its flanks, bringing it under control about 6pm.
Thick layers of smoke drifted north towards Campelltown at dusk and six CFA trucks remained at the scene through the night to prevent it from reigniting.
They were relieved in the morning as additional firefighters arrived.
A small breakaway fire broke out but was quickly contained with the help of a Ballarat-based firefighting helicopter about 1pm on Sunday.
Authorities were yet to determine what first sparked the fire on Saturday as of Sunday evening.
Firefighters would remain at the Smeaton blaze overnight and into Monday.
The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast temperatures to drop slightly to the high 20s during the first half of this week in Ballarat.
However, the mercury is predicted to spike again on Saturday, with temperatures upwards of 38 degrees predicted.
CFA crews will be placed on high alert.
