Victorian crop fires burn about 300 hectares
Farmers helped stretched CFA crews battle seven fires in the state's north-west, with lentil and barley crops lost.
Seven fires have destroyed crops covering about 300 hectares in Victoria's north-west, according to the Country Fire Authority, with local farmers helping crews whose resources were stretched across several locations.
Lightning ignited the first blaze at Walpeup, south of Mildura, where 180 hectares of lentils were destroyed. Another six fires required a CFA response around Nandaly and Chinkapook during the afternoon and evening.
Nandaly grain grower Codey Elliott said he lost more than 100 hectares of barley after lightning hit a harvested paddock on his property. The flames crossed the Calder Highway and reached a crop he had expected would produce a near-record yield.
Containing that fire took an hour and a half, with CFA tankers, private units and three water-bomber planes assisting. Mr Elliott credited neighbouring farmers' rapid response with preventing greater losses. He resumed harvesting the following day.
Sea Lake Brigade Group Officer Paul Allan said CFA crews could not cover all the fires without help from farmers and private units. He urged growers to pause harvesting when a major fire nearby was stretching firefighting resources.
Gavin Wright, CFA District 18 Assistant Chief Fire Officer, urged farmers to remain prepared and call Triple Zero promptly if a fire starts, saying an early response improves the chance of containing it.
