Monday, November, 18, 1.15pm
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A CFA spokesman said an Elmore fire involving 3000 hay bales has provided no complications in week after fire crews controlled the blaze.
The fire in Wharparilla Road started on Sunday, November 10, at 10.30pm.
Ten CFA tankers controlled the fire which caused an estimated $1.2 million in damage to hay and farming equipment.
Fire crews put in containment lines before handing the area back to the property owners.
"The area around the fire has been ploughed," the CFA spokesman said.
"The CFA re-attended the (site) to inspect the fire on November 12 (Tuesday) at 11.30am.
"We were also working at the fire on November 14 (Thursday) at 7.30am.
"It hadn't created any issues and no complications have come from it."
The CFA is not treating the fire as suspicious.
"Fire investigators are treating it as spontaneous combustion at this stage," the CFA spokesman said.
"They are still monitoring it but it looks like an unlucky circumstance."
Monday, November, 11, 11.45am
Country Fire Authority crews are on Monday burning off paddocks surrounding an Elmore shed fire to prevent any grass fires.
The blaze on Wharparilla Road, Elmore was contained at 2.23pm on Sunday, but a CFA spokesperson said the fire could continue for several days.
Residents in Bonn, Burnewang, Corop, Elmore, Rochester, and Runnymede should expect to see smoke in the area until at least Thursday.
The CFA will reassess the situation and give an update to the community later this week.
Sunday, November 10, 3.35pm
Up to $1.2 million of hay and equipment is believed to have been lost following a hay shed fire in Elmore on Sunday.
CFA crews were called to a fire in Wharparilla Road, Elmore, just before 10.30am to find two hay sheds fully alight.
Ten tankers, a hazmat van and a crane controlled the fire which will burn out over the next two days.
The hay shed fire is now under control.
Glenn Trewick, who is in a farming partnership with his brother who owns the property, estimated up to $1.2 million of hay and farming equipment had been lost.
"(3000 hay bales) would be about right. The hay in general would be 1800 tonne, I'd say it's worth about $500,000," he said.
"Then there's the machinery. (All together) it would be worth well over a million, maybe getting up towards $1.2 million."
Mr Trewick's sister-in-law Anna raised the alarm this morning. The cause of the fire is still unknown but the CFA is not considering it suspicious.
"We've never had anything like this before. The other hay sheds will now be checked thoroughly," he said.
"Maybe 40 years ago we had a few small squares go up but never anything like this.
"There were a couple of bits of machinery in there, whether that caused it, I don't know. It's too early to tell."
The CFA moved away a container full of chemicals as it worked to ensure the fire didn't spread.
"There is a shipping container which is fully sealed. As far as we are aware, that is safe. They have bought in a crane to shift it," Mr Trewick said.
"We would just like to thank all the neighbouring brigades that turned up to help."
CFA District 02 commander Chris Jacobsen confirmed the Wharparilla Road fire involved two hay sheds.
"We've had two large hay sheds catch fire, within the sheds are a semi trailer and a spray unit," he said.
"On the other side is a shipping container and chemical drums that haven't been involved in the fire. They are a mix of farm chemicals that we have moved so heat from the hay burning down over the next few days won't affect it.
"At this stage there are no suspicious circumstances."
Mr Jacobsen said tankers from nearby CFA stations and a hazmat van and commander vehicle from Bendigo and Golden Square attended the fire.
He said crews will do a fuel reduction burn and put in a fire break to prepare to let the fire burn out over the next few days.
"Once we have moved the shipping container and any possibility of chemical issues, we will do a burn out around the area," he said.
"We expect that to take two or three days. The fuel reduction around the paddocks is because we expect stronger winds next week and it could possibly still be burning next week."
Mr Jacobsen said the fire served as a reminder for farmers to ensure their hay stocks are dry.
"Farmers should ensure they stack their has as dry as possible," he said. "The problem with the rain we have had is some of (that hay) is going away with higher moisture content."
12.21pm
A CFA spokesman expected fire crews to remain on scene for some time as they work to extinguish the fire.
"The current plan, with the chemicals involved, is to move out some assets and put a break in to allow it to burn out," the spokesman said.
"It will take several days. Crews will be on scene for some time while there is a threat.
"When it is handed back to the property owners there will be constant monitoring over the next week."
The cause of the fire has yet to be determined.
EARLIER: A hay shed is burning in Elmore with almost 3000 bales involved in the blaze.
CFA was called to the scene on Elmore-Raywood Road at 10.27am to a fire in a shed measuring 150 metres by 140 metres in size. Police are also on scene to control traffic.
It is estimated the hay is worth about $1 million.
A CFA spokesman said almost 1000 litres of Round-Up chemicals was adding complications for fire crews.
"With the further complications of the chemicals it will take some time to control," the spokesman said.
"We have got it surrounded so there are no other assets under threat. There is a house a couple of hundred metres away but crews are keeping the fire away from there."
Ten fire crews were either on scene or on route to the fire which is not yet under control.
"We have been told there is $1 million worth of hay involved," the spokesman said.
"We have got special equipment and a hazmat van on the way."
Advice has been issued for the Bonn, Burnewang, Corop, Elmore, Rochester and Runnymede communities saying the fire could burn for a number of days.
There is no immediate threat to the community.
Smoke may be visible from nearby roads as firefighters pull apart the hay to extinguish the fire.
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