By Shelby Brooks
A smouldering burnoff has caused a small bushfire in Upper Beaconsfield days after it was first lit.
Firefighters were called to reports of a grass and scrub fire in Beaconsfield at 4.20pm on Wednesday 12 January.
Five CFA fire trucks and volunteer firefighters from Upper Beaconsfield, Beaconsfield, Berwick and Officer responded to the fire.
A CFA spokesperson said firefighters were able to bring the fire under control by 5.25pm and contain the fire to about 30 by 40 metres around the area of origin.
They remained on scene blacking out for some time, putting a stop on the incident at 6.15pm.
Upper Beaconfield CFA lieutenant Clinton Patzack said when they arrived, firefighters found multiple trees alight across multiple properties.
Mr Patzack said it was understood the fire was first lit on the weekend of January 8 and 9.
Fire bans were put in place on Monday 10 January.
“It’s been an old burnoff that’s flared up with the wind,” Mr Patzack said.
“Burnoffs can hold their heat for quite some time, an ember from the final burn has lasted from the weekend.
“It was good we got to it when we did.”
Due to the remoteness of the fire, volunteers had to rely on water supplies from neighbour’s dams and tanks to extinguish the fire.
“It’s good advice to think if there was a fire at my place, where is the closest water supply we can access,” Mr Patzack said.
“After you do a burnoff, it’s important to come put water on it and break the pile up.
“It’s also important to cut back trees and clear gateways so that a property is easy to access.”
