UPDATE, 3.16pm: Bendigo Crime Investigation Unit members have arrived at the scene of a fire near Bendigo Airport.
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Bendigo Fire Station senior station officer Darren Eenjes said the fire was being treated as suspicious.
"Witness accounts say people were seen throwing some sort of liquid into the bush and driving off with the fire starting shortly after," he said.
"It's a crime scene at the moment. DELWP are also here with two units and their operations manager and will be conduction an investigation with police.
"It's very frustrating and very dangerous."
CFA units received call at 1.25pm for a grass and scrub fire threatening houses in McDowalls and Victa Roads.
"Further information made us upgrade the response and call in two extra appliances," Senior Station Officer Eenjes said.
He said it took units 15 minutes to control.
"Fire was spreading from McDowalls Road to a house on Victa Road. We made sure to position our first truck to protect that asset,” he said.
"We used three appliances, two from Bendigo and one from Golden Square, and 15 firefighters to contain the fire to one paddock."
Staff at the RSPCA in Piper Lane were informed of the fire but did not need to take any precautionary measures.
UPDATE, 2.45pm: Victa Road has been re-opened following a fire near Bendigo Airport.
The fire is being treated as suspicious.
CFA and police fire investigators are on scene.
Staff at the nearby Mulligrub’s Play Centre said the fire did not escalate to a point where they were forced to evacuate the business.
"Once the CFA arrived, they controlled the fire very quickly," a staff member said.
"After that, it was more exciting for the kids to see the firefighters across the road."
Police are speaking to witnesses at Mulligrub’s, who were in the area when the fire started.
Mulligrub’s staff said there was a fire in the same area last summer.
UPDATE, 2.24pm: Fire investigators are at the scene of a blaze near Bendigo Airport.
Firefighters are continuing to black out the paddock.
EARLIER: Firefighters are at the scene of a fire near Bendigo Airport, which is believed to have been deliberately lit.
The fire is in a building site at Mcdowalls Road, East Bendigo, near the intersection with Victa Road.
Authorities are investigating after finding a plastic bottle containing petrol at the scene.
About five Country Fire Authority units are responding.
Forest Fire Management Victoria, and police are also on scene.
The fire is under control, but smoke might be visible in the area.
There is no threat to surrounding buildings or communities.
The CFA has advised people to stay informed and monitor conditions, and to keep the roads clear for emergency services to respond.
Victa Road is blocked and north-bound traffic is being directed down Mcdowalls Road.
Traffic from Rohs Road is being turned back.
Health information:
- If you need medical advice for burns or exposure to smoke, seek medical advice or call Nurse on Call on 1300 606 024.
- Anyone experiencing wheezing, chest tightness and difficulty breathing should call 000.
Smoke information:
- Smoke can affect people’s health.
- People with heart or lung conditions (including asthma), children, pregnant women and older people are more sensitive to the effects of breathing in smoke.
- People with existing heart or lung conditions (including asthma) should follow the treatment plan advised by the doctor.
Stay informed:
- Via www.emergency.vic.gov.au
- Tune in to ABC Local Radio, commercial and designated community radio stations, or Sky News TV.
- Call the VicEmergency Hotline to talk to someone about this warning on freecall 1800 226 226.
- People who are deaf, hard of hearing, or who have a speech/communication impairment can contact VicEmergency Hotline via the National Relay Service on 1800 555 677.
- For help with English, call the Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450 (freecall) and ask them to telephone VicEmergency Hotline. If you know someone who cannot speak English, provide them with this number.
- Download the VicEmergency app or follow VicEmergency on Twitter (#vicfires) or Facebook.
More to come