Eight firefighting crews tackle three-hectare tree fire at Timboon West

A burn-off and gusts of wind are believed to be the cause of a 50-metre by 50-metre tree fire on East and West Road at Timboon West on Sunday afternoon.

Eight CFA crews attended the fire, which was near a tree plantation.

They arrived on the scene at 2:19pm. By 3:19pm, the fire had been brought under control. At 5:15pm the site was declared safe.

Although local fire restrictions have been lifted, Timboon Fire Brigade Secretary, Howard Meek, encouraged residents in the Corangamite Shire to be responsible when burning off, given the shortage of rain in the region. 

“The message from local CFA brigades to the land owners is just to be very vigilant with any burn offs,” he told the Brolga on Monday. 

“Whilst the fire restrictions have lifted, we are still, as everybody knows, extra, extra dry, with no prospect of rain in the short-term. So be careful of wind changes, and if you light a fire keep an eye on it, don't walk away and leave it.”