Stockport: Grassfire December 25 2017
At 9 past two this afternoon, CFS volunteers left their family Christmas celebrations to respond to reports of a grassfire on Branson Road, Alma.
In total 16 appliances with 55 firefighters were supported by four water bombers.
They arrived to find a fast moving grassfire that had reached two large stacks of haybales and was travelling towards a home and large shed.
CFS crews, with help from local farm fighting units, managed to protect the home and sheds.
The fire then spread to burn through approximately 75 hectares of grass, stubble and bush.
Crews were able to stop the forward rate of spread of the fire just over an hour after the fire was reported. The head of the fire was estimated at 500m wide.
Work was then turned to the edges and a gully filled with tress that was ablaze.
At 4:47pm a reduced danger message was issued, with the fire now contained.
Several CFS volunteers will remain on the fire ground through Christmas evening to mop-up the fire ground and extinguish any hot coals, as a gusty change is expected in the area towards the middle of the week.
Losses in the area were limited to grass and scrub fires due to the work of CFS and farm fighter units.
The cause of the fire is being investigated, but at this stage is not believed to be suspicious.
CFS crews were also called to a grassfire at Blewitt Springs at 3:34 this afternoon.
Crews arrived to find grape vines and a patch of grass alight, and were quickly able to extinguish the blaze.