Vic: Bushfire started by blazing car under control: fire body

AAP General News (Australia)
02-02-2000
Vic: Bushfire started by blazing car under control: fire body

MELBOURNE, Feb 2 AAP - Firefighters have controlled a fire, apparently started after
an abandoned car was set alight, in hill country west of Melbourne.

About 90 hectares of bush in the Brisbane Ranges, west of Melbourne, were burnt out
by the fire, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment (NRE) said.

The fire broke out overnight in the Brisbane Ranges, south of Bacchus Marsh, about
50 km west of Melbourne.

"The fire is believed to have started when an abandoned car was set alight," NRE chief
fire officer Gary Morgan said.

One hundred firefighters from NRE and the Country Fire Authority and three aircraft
quickly contained the head of the fire by 10am, then bulldozers were used to battle the
flanks of the blaze, the NRE said.

Mr Morgan said this was good work, considering the heat, high winds and lack of moisture
in the air.

Mr Morgan warned all Victorians to be vigilant in the coming weeks in reporting any
suspected fires and to take care when visiting the state's national parks and forests.

AAP er/ej

KEYWORD: BUSHFIRES VIC SECOND LEAD

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