A massive response from firefighters helped contain the blaze, with at least 45 vehicles responding.

It was declared under control just before 3pm.

A "watch and act" warning remains in place.

Unless the fire causes further danger, there will be no more updates on this page.

UPDATE, 2pm: The emergency warning has been downgraded to "Watch and Act" for residents in Mount Glasgow, Dunach, Clunes, Evansford, Glengower, Red Lion, Stony Creek and Mount Cameron.

The warning area remains the same, but it is no longer classified as an emergency warning.

There are still 47 units fighting the blaze.

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UPDATE, 1.45pm: Fells Gully Road resident Melissa, who is fleeing to Maryborough, said the initial fire started after a burnoff on Wednesday.

It is understood two haysheds have been destroyed on Wattle Gully Road, Mount Glasgow.

Red and grey smoke, albeit not as heavy, continues to be seen and a wind change is expected about 4pm.

The CFA and the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning are currently clearing fallen trees on McCallums Creek Road, Dunach, which police have closed.

UPDATE, 1.10PM: The secondary, smaller bushfire on Mount Glasgow itself, has been contained.

According to the VicEmergency website, the smaller fire was contained just before 1pm.

It has already burnt about 50 hectares.

The initial fire continues to burn out of control.

There have been reports of small raindrops in the area, but nothing that would make a difference to the blaze as yet.

The wind is still extremely strong in the area.

There are 33 vehicles tackling the fire.

UPDATE, 12.50PM: The Courier's reporter on the ground, Caleb Cluff, says there appears to be two separate fires that are struggling to be contained.

There is the initial fire that started near Firman's Road, as well as one that ignited near Mount Glasgow itself.

The concern at the moment will be trying to prevent the fire reaching Dunach Forest, according to Mr Cluff, who lives just north of the fire area.

"The wind is so strong and it's so hot," he said.

A command centre has been set up at the Clunes Showgrounds.

Local farmer Tom Davies, a man in his 80s, says he remembers a very similar fire back in 1944.

"It burned from here to Clunes and it burned the hospital down in 1944," Mr Davies said.

UPDATE, 12.30PM: Clunes residents have been informed by the CFA that they do not yet need to evacuate.

A secondary information message has been sent out by the CFA, advising of the fire.

The new yellow-coloured advice message covers the area to the south of the initial emergency warning zone.

It says: "There is currently no threat to you, but you should stay informed and monitor conditions."

UPDATE, 12.10PM: Residents in the area north of Clunes have been told it's too late to leave and an emergency warning has been issued.

The emergency message has just been upgraded from the initial 'watch and act'.

The CFA has issued the following message:

Air support has been called in to fight the fire As of 12.10pm, there were 30 units fighting the blaze.

The blaze, believed to be about 10 hectares in size, is spreading from its starting point at Mt Glasgow.

You can see the emergency warning zone in the map below.

Wind gusts as strong as 85km/h were recorded in Ballarat at 11.30am.

It is not yet known how the fire started.

The fire has erupted on a day where Code Red alerts have been issued in Victoria for the first time since Black Saturday.

Although this fire does not fall within the Code Red zone, it is still a Total Fire Ban throughout Victoria.

What you should do:

If you are currently driving slow down and turn on your headlights; smoke will make it difficult to see.

If the situation changes you will need to leave quickly. Plan to:

Impacts in your area:

This message was issued by Country Fire Authority.

The next update is expected by 21/11/2019 01:40 pm or as the situation changes.