UPDATE, 4.55pm: Firefighters have extinguished a grass fire on vacant land near the centre of Bendigo but say the cause of the blaze remains unknown.
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Lieutenant Bryan Greenwood from Golden Square CFA said more than one acre of land bordering Thistle and Mackenzie streets in Golden Square was burnt on Friday afternoon.
CFA members, police and Forest Fire Management Victoria staff all attended the blaze that took the teams 30 minutes to extinguish.
Lieutenant Greenwood said the fire could have been more serious if not for wet weather in the past fortnight.
“Had it been another week from now it owuld’ve been a different story,” he said.
“Luckily the rain two or three weeks ago has brought all this nice green grass.”
A slow rate of spread meant homes backing on to the land did not need evacuating.
The firefighter asked residents to stay aware of their surroundings during the fire danger period, saying conditions can “change just like that”.
“If confronted by smoke, close your windows, close your doors and shut off air conditioners – they’ll filter smoke into the building,” Lieutenant Greenwood said.
EARLIER: Firefighters are currently at the scene of a grass fire on a vacant block in Golden Square.
The property is in Thistle Street, near the intersection of MacKenzie Street.
A lot of smoke is visible in the area.
More to come.
