![The City of Ballarat has removed dead overgrown vegetation on a steep slope behind offices in Camp Street after a Ballarat CBD grassfire on Wednesday. Picture by The Courier. The City of Ballarat has removed dead overgrown vegetation on a steep slope behind offices in Camp Street after a Ballarat CBD grassfire on Wednesday. Picture by The Courier.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/177877894/d50d67ce-65a8-4479-86f0-41819d082475.JPG/r0_23_1297_752_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
UPDATE Friday, December 8, 1pm:
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The City of Ballarat says dead and dying vegetation along a laneway parallel to Camp Street has been removed following a grassfire.
Dead dry grass, ivy and other weeds were reported on fire in a laneway behind the Ballarat Justice Service Centre at 10.34am on Wednesday, December 6.
The fire sent a plume of smoke over Mair Street and was under control within 10 minutes.
"The remaining vegetation has been cleared," Mayor Des Hudson said on Friday.
"Apart from weed spraying and keeping the area tidy, there are no current plans to have this specific area further landscaped.
"This incident is a timely reminder for us all to be vigilant and prepare our properties as the fire season is now upon us."
The Ballarat fire drew a large number of onlookers from Camp and Field streets who clapped and cheered firefighters who extinguished the blaze. The cause of the fire is not known.
Wednesday, December 6:
![Firefighters approached Wednesday morning's Ballarat CBD grassfire from Cattan Street as well as the end of a Field Street car park. The area has a large amount of dead vegetation and weeds. Picture by Kate Healy. Firefighters approached Wednesday morning's Ballarat CBD grassfire from Cattan Street as well as the end of a Field Street car park. The area has a large amount of dead vegetation and weeds. Picture by Kate Healy.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/177877894/cfa5ef73-12a6-4325-a29f-83b7476d3599.jpg/r0_0_6192_4100_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Office workers in Camp Street have clapped and cheered firefighters who extinguished a Ballarat Central "grassfire".
Dead dry grass, ivy and other weeds were reported on fire in a laneway behind the Ballarat Justice Service Centre at 10.34am on Wednesday.
![Firefighters work on the blaze, behind a Camp Street government building. The steep slope and narrow winding laneway made access challenging. Picture by Kate Healy. Firefighters work on the blaze, behind a Camp Street government building. The steep slope and narrow winding laneway made access challenging. Picture by Kate Healy.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/177877894/89d44c42-b56a-48e8-bb3d-ba9572e617ff.jpg/r0_0_6192_4128_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
The fire sent a plume of smoke over Mair Street and was under control within 10 minutes.
The steep area is strewn with broken glass, empty cans of alcohol - with walls covered in large amounts of ivy and graffiti.
Two fire pumpers attended the blaze - which burnt at least 10 square metres of vegetation - and firefighters also hosed down untouched weeds nearby as a precaution in the hot dry conditions.
Firefighters also worked to dig up soil on the blackened slope and look for hotspots.
The unloved and hard-to-access laneway runs between Cattan Street and a Field Street carpark behind the Rebel Sport store.
Firefighters have told City of Ballarat staff the area needs to be cleared of weeds and other dry, dead material. The Council has been contacted for comment.
The laneway borders some of Ballarat's most historic buildings including Trades Hall, built in 1888.
![Council clears vegetation after CBD grassfire Council clears vegetation after CBD grassfire](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/177877894/9f571292-aac6-42ed-96f2-732ee86c750c.jpg/r0_323_6192_3806_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
The Ballarat CBD fire drew a large number of onlookers from Camp and Field streets.
Firefighters said the cause was not known.
The incident was classed as a Camp Street "grassfire", despite the area having very few "grassed" surfaces.