LIGHTNING strikes sparked fires east of Daylesford late yesterday.The fires started in Department of Sustainability and Environment land near Denver just before 5pm."It was three spots of fire started by lightning from the lightning band that went through," said CFA Region 15 duty officer Chris Bigham. Two DSE crews and CFA units from Glenlyon, Malmsbury, Spring Hill and Trentham attended the scene. The incident was declared contained at 7.45pm last night.The fires were among several across the state started by the band of storms. One of those, in Mallee scrub near Mildura in the state's north west, saw a DC-10 firebombing aircraft used for the first time.The so-called super soaker jet was given a test run near Trentham last week. Meanwhile, yesterday afternoon's thunder and lightning mostly bypassed Ballarat. A band of thunderstorms moved through the region between 4pm and 7pm ahead of a cool change.And while Maryborough received a drenching of more than 9mm, Ballarat got little more than a few spots of rain.The mercury peaked at 34.1C at 2pm at Ballarat Airport before cloud from the west began to move in and bring down the temperature.Winds from the north and the north-east gave way to south and south-westerly breezes which helped continue to cool the city.Ballarat can expect mostly sunny conditions this week before the next change arrives.The Bureau of Meteorology has predicted a top of 27C for the city today, 31C tomorrow and 28C on Wednesday.Another top of 28C is expected on Thursday before the chance of thunderstorms and rain at times.
Lightning sparks fires near Daylesford
