Cool and damp weather has brought relief for Victorian fire fighters who've battled the huge grass fire north of the Melbourne
CFA firefighters and residents will tonight discuss the Donnybrook fire and bushfire survival planning for those on the city's edge.
The public meeting, at Epping Memorial Hall from 7.30pm, will include representatives from the CFA, MFB, police, Whittlesea Council and State Government.
A man was arrested last night over the fire, which destroyed property as it burnt through 2040ha on Melbourne's northern fringe.
Detectives from Whittlesea CIU interviewed the 48-year-old Geelong man over allegations of recklessly causing a bushfire under the CFA Act.
He has been released and is expected to be charged on summons.
Pictures: Epping fire burns 2040ha
The grass fire hit the Epping, Wollert, Kalkallo and Donnybrook areas on Monday afternoon, with residents fleeing their homes and smoke causing gridlock on the Hume Freeway. Sheds on people's properties were also destroyed and five firefighters suffered minor injuries.
Police have urged locals or anyone else who was in the area at the time of the fire and suffered property loss or damage to call Whittlesea CIU on 9407 3333.
Victoria's fire chief Craig Lapsley said the fire should be a "reality check" for residents of Melbourne's outer urban fringes.
Mr Lapsley congratulated a combined effort from emergency services in battling both the Donnybrook blaze, on Melbourne's north, and the Grampians fire which continues to burn in bushland in Victoria's west.
There were reports a house was destroyed but it was later discovered to be a large shed.
The proximity of the fire to the city meant significant MFB resources were also devoted to controlling the inferno.
But while Mr Lapsley applauded emergency services for keeping the community informed he was concerned residents weren't prepared for the danger they faced in Melbourne's semi-rural fringes.
Firefighters work to contain an out-of-control blaze in the Grampians and surrounding farmland. Picture: Jason Edwards
"I think the most important thing is this is a reality check for everyone that lives in that outer metropolitan area that grassland fires are a reality, will continue to be a reality in the landscape that we live in.
"February will continue to be dry, we've got no rain forecast for the immediate future. For the next number of weeks this fire that we saw yesterday has the reality to be Melton, Sunbury, in all of the northern suburbs, western suburbs in Melbourne, and certainly in eastern and southern suburbs around Melbourne, so we need to take that and understand it."
Rain yesterday morning eased the threat of the fire, which is now under control after consuming 2040ha of land.
Some 175 firefighters were patrolling the area yesterday.
Peter Garner, who lives on Donnybrook Rd, almost lost his home after the fast-moving fire came roaring up in the paddocks behind him.
Fierce winds have fanned a grass fire across the Hume Highway towards homes and farms near Craigieburn
Mr Garner said he didn't know there was a fire until six-foot-high flames were right upon the house.
"A bloke in a ute came flying in the driveway and said there's a fire," he said.
"When we first saw it it was so close to the joint, but we didn't lose anything. We were the lucky ones."
Passersby helped Mr Garner fight the fire which came within 4m of his property.
The group used wet doonas, garden hoses and a 1000-litre tanker to quell the blaze.
His partner Danielle Anderson said it was a frightening experience.
Peter Garner, who lives on Donnybrook Rd, almost lost his home after the fast moving fire came roaring up in the paddocks behind him. Picture: David Smith
"It was roaring. Peter leapt straight into action - he didn't think twice. I just grabbed the important paperwork and our dog, Bonnie, and got in the car. Peter said 'get out of here'," she said.
The family, who have lived in the area for seven years, spent a restless night walking around the boundary to monitor embers.
Keep up to date with CFA fire events at its website.
The fire burned on both sides of the busy Hume Freeway around Epping and Campbellfield.
Epping North residents started to flee their homes on Monday afternoon, seeking refuge in shopping centres and community hubs, as a fast-moving grass fire closed in.
Cara Horner evacuated her home in Aurora Estate’s Early Bird Way about 3.10pm, taking shelter at Epping Plaza with her baby.
Peter Garner's dog survived the fire destroyed much of neighbouring land. Picture: David Smith
"I didn’t know where else to go,’’ Ms Horner said.
"Even though we’re on the fringe, I don’t think we see ourselves as at risk of fire and I don’t think many people even have a fire plan.’’
Northern Health acting chief executive Robynne Cooke said 10 dialysis patients and a number of IT and support service staff located in peripheral buildings were affected.
About 40 children at the childcare centre neighbouring the hospital were forced to leave and sheltered in the main building of the hospital.
"We brought all those people into the hospital," Ms Cooke said.
"Our engineers worked with the air conditioning system because there was a lot of smoke.
Firefighters work to contain an out-of-control blaze in the Grampians and surrounding farmland. Picture: Jason Edwards
The fire alert was the second the hospital has received in the past three weeks.
A number of hospital patients were relocated to wards within the hospital on January 22, when Emergency services attended a suspicious grass fire behind the hospital.
Ms Cooke said she was confident her staff would be able to handle any future emergency situations.
STAY SAFE
CFA and DSE work to contain a blaze burning out of control in the Grampians and surrounding farmland. Picture: Jason Edwards
The Herald Sun has joined with fire authorities to keep Victorians informed. Check out the Bushfire Ready page for the latest advice, warnings and videos from the CFA. This page is updated with the latest warnings from across the state. Save it to your bookmarks. You can access it from our homepage (click on Bushfire Ready) from any computer. This service is not available on smart phones.
Check live weather information - including fire warnings - on your computer AND smart phone at our Weather page. Just add m.heraldsun.com.au to your smart phone bookmarks and follow the View weather forecast link.
The CFA has a live fire map. Check it out here and add to your bookmarks.
Reports and alerts will also be posted to our Facebook page and from our official Twitter account.
- with Herald Sun reporters Mark Buttler, Erin Marie, Anthony Dowsley, Jon Kaila and Leader's Allan Valente
The fast-moving grass fire at Donnybrook. Picture: Kylie Else
Daughter Rachel Molino shows what's left of her home. Picture: Carmelo Bazzano
An adjoining property belonging to the Molinos, flanked by hedges. Picture: Carmelo Bazzano
Whittlesea CFA volunteer Kathryn Elovaris puts out the remains of the Wollert blaze. Picture: Carmelo Bazzano
The fire, about 27km from Melbourne, caused widespread damage in Wollert. Picture: Carmelo Bazzano
