The road closures are still in place for: 

- Edgecombe Road from Ennis Road to Hallorans Lane, 

- Blackhill Road north from Verekers Lane,

- Fordes Lane from Baynton Road to Edgecombe Road.

A downgraded Watch and Act message for Edgecombe, Langley, Woodleigh Heights, Metcalfe East, Bald Hill, Sidonia, Pastoria, Pastoria East, Baynton, Benloch was also still in place.

UPDATE 6.10pm: The immediate threat of fire has passed but fire crews remain on scene and will battle the blaze into the night.  

The fire, now contained, burned 104 hectares. 

More than 30 fire trucks are still on scene and four firefighting aircraft are still active. 

UPDATE 6pm: Firefighters have stopped the spread of the grassfire in the Edgecombe area, but there is still active fire which firefighters will be working on throughout the night.

The CFA has issued a downgraded Watch and Act message for Edgecombe, Langley, Woodleigh Heights, Metcalfe East, Bald Hill, Sidonia, Pastoria, Pastoria East, Baynton, Benloch.

While the immediate threat has passed, you should continue to stay informed and monitor conditions, as they may change again suddenly.

There is a south westerly wind change due at approximately 7pm which will cause smoke from this fire to drift towards the north east.

A Community Emergency Relief Centre has been opened at the Kyneton Race Course located in Campaspe Place, Kyneton.

The following roads are still closed:

Edgecombe Road from Ennis Road to Hallorans Lane

Blackhill Road north from Verekers Lane

Fordes Lane from Baynton Road to Edgecombe Road

UPDATE 5.30pm: The Edgecombe grass fire has now been contained. 

UPDATE 5.20pm: A relief centre has been set up for residents affected in the Edgecombe fire near Kyneton. 

It is open from 5pm today at the Kyneton Racecourse, Lennox St, Kyneton. 

UPDATE 5pm: One resident said the fire started near his property. 

"It was about a kilometre from my place," he said. 

"I raced home from work but it went in another direction which was definitely a relief.

"I'm not sure any houses have been damaged. It looked like it was in Blackhill Reserve, which was burnt last year."

UPDATE 4.59pm: The CFA have issued a downgraded advice message for Kyneton.

Firefighters and aircraft are working to stop the spread of grass fire in Edgecombe Road, Edgecombe. 

This fire is heading in a easterly direction and has crossed Black Hill Road.

It is not yet under control. 

The township of Kyneton is not at risk of being impacted however smoke may be visible from nearby communities and roads.

Residents should continue to stay informed and avoid the fire affected area. 

Road closures include:

Edgecombe Road from Ernis Road to Hallorans Lane.

Blackhill Road is closed north from Verekers Lane.

Fordes Lane is closed from Baynton Road to Edgecombe Road. 

UPDATE 4.50pm: The CFA has confirmed at least one structure has been destroyed in the blaze. 

An assessment into the cause of the fire will be carried out as soon as possible. 

In addition to more than 30 fire trucks, six aircraft – two of them water-bombing helicopters – have been sent to combat the flames. 

The fire is travelling rapidly in an easterly direction. 

UPDATE 4.30pm: A number of roads have been closed as CFA crews battle a rapidly-moving blaze. 

Edgecombe Road has been closed to traffic between Ennis Road, Edgecombe and Hallorans Lane, Kyneton. 

Blackhill Road, near Verekers Lane, is also closed, as is Fordes Road, between Mcphersons Lane and Blackhill Road in Kyneton. 

VicRoads advises motorists to avoid the area.

Smoke will be visible in the area. 

If driving in smokey conditions please, motorists are advised to turn their headlights on and leave extra room between your vehicle and the one in front. 

UPDATE 4pm: A CFA spokeswoman said the fire had now spread to 60 hectares in size with a watch and act message issued for Baynton, Pastoria, Pastoria East and Sidonia, east of Kyneton.

UPDATE 3.30pm: The fire has spread to more than eight hectares in size on the eastern side of the Heathcote-Kyneton Road and the Kyneton Bushland Resort on Melville Drive has been evacuated.

The number of fire trucks responding to the fire has reached 36, along with three Helitak and three Firebird aircraft.

Crews are focusing on protecting threatened property.

Smoke is visible from Malmsbury Station.

UPDATE 3.12pm:

An Emergency warning has now been issued for Kyneton, Edgecombe, Woodleigh Heights and Bald Hill.

“There is a fast moving, out of control grassfire travelling in a south easterly direction from Edgecombe Road across Black Hill Road, Edgecombe,” it reads.

“Firefighters and aircraft are working to stop the spread of fire.

“This fire is not yet under control.

“You are in danger, act now to protect yourself.

“It is too late to leave.

“The safest option is to take shelter indoors immediately.

“Smoke will be visible from nearby communities and roads.”

The fire is burning in the same area between Kyenton and Edgecombe in which fire threatened properties in January last year.

EARLIER: More than 30 fire trucks are currently responding to a grass and scrub fire outside of Kyneton.

Four vehicles were initially dispatched at 2.19pm in response to the blaze north of Red Hill Road, but that number has been steadily ratcheted up and reached 23 by 2.48pm. 

The fire is burning in the Blackhill School Road area northeast of Kyneton.

There is currently no threat to communities, but the Country Fire Authority is advising nearby residents to stay informed and monitor conditions.

Several trees are also burning in the bushfire, which is still marked as small on the Victorian government’s emergency response website. 

The Country Fire Authority has declared a total fire ban for the region today. 

No fires can be lit or are allowed to remain alight in the open air in the Mallee, Wimmera, Northern Country, North Central and Central districts.

The ban includes Bendigo, Kyneton, Castlemaine, Echuca, Rochester, and Wedderburn. 

Bendigo is facing a “severe” fire risk and temperatures.

The CFA has issued the following advice for Edgecombe, Langley, Metcalfe East, Kyneton, Malmsbury, Sidonia, Pastoria.

Safety information

Smoke information

Stay informed