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Residents furious after controlled burn turns into raging bushfires

Residents furious after controlled burn turns into raging bushfires
(9NEWS)
Residents in central Victoria are furious that bushfires which destroyed two homes and are threatening another two hundred began after a controlled burn jumped containment lines.  
The controlled burns were lit in Lancefield six days ago and twice spread over marked out lines, forcing local residents to evacuate as outbuildings, sheds and yards were razed by bushfires yesterday, some of which continue to burn uncontrolled today.
Victoria's Environment Minister Lisa Neville yesterday said weather conditions were not originally predicted to be hot and windy when the burn started.
"There's always an investigation where a planned burn does break the lines, we have less than two percent of our burns do that," she said.
(9NEWS)
Lancefield veterinarian Miesja Reynolds told The Age locals were furious that their homes were now threatened by a deliberately lit blaze.
"It’s a disaster really. It’s cleared out a lot of debris that’s built up over the years, but it should not have happened like this. It should have been done with it was a lot cooler."
She said she had lost five kilometres worth of fencing due to the blaze.
A Cobaw home has been destroyed by the blaze. (9NEWS)
A Cobaw home has been destroyed by the blaze. (9NEWS)
Yesterday, Environment Minister Greg Hunt told 3AW he planned to question Victorian premier Daniel Andrews over the blaze.
The Country Fire Authority (CFA) has confirmed at least two homes have been destroyed.
They also confirmed an elderly man who was reported missing last night had been found safe and well inside his car earlier today.
It is believed the man went missing when he was en route to join family sheltering in a nearby centre.
(9NEWS)
Former Labor MP Mary Delahunty, who lives in one of the affected areas, told The Age she was furious the burn had gotten out of control.
"I'm furious that this so-called controlled burn endangered us again, twice in three days. Someone in the department must be accountable for the fear, the anxiety, the loss of property," she said.
"There's a lot of anger in the community. I do want to say a warm and big thank you to all the volunteers and then all night last night, they've kept everyone safe."
Incident controller Greg Murphy said while temperatures and wind speeds are expected to decrease today, a bushfire was still burning uncontrolled.
"Overnight, we've had some progress in terms of our ability to get on top of this fire. We do still have a fire that is not under control, and it's burning in a northerly direction up in the Benloch, Baynton, Nulla Vale areas," Mr Murphy told 9NEWS.
(9NEWS)
"It’s burning in some very difficult terrain, the fuel load is quite high, with stringy bark trees causing some erratic fire, even with the more moderate conditions overnight."
Mr Murphy said cooler temperatures were expected today, although significant wind speeds were still a concern.
"We're expecting somewhat cooler temperatures, the wind speed is still quite significant, between sort of 40-60km/hour, which will present a challenge to us.
"However where the fire is burning now, it’s starting to burn out of the forest into the grass land, which is still some moisture in it, which will give us a better chance to get on top of this fire," he said.
Yesterday, the CFA said more than 650 firefighters had battled more than 600 fires.
One of the homes destroyed was in Cobaw, north of Melbourne.  
(9NEWS)
Crews are working hard to protect homes in the area. (9NEWS)
Crews are working hard to protect homes in the area. (9NEWS)
An emergency warning is now in place for the below:
Benloch, Pastoria East, Pastoria, Nulla Vale, Baynton and Emu Flat
There is a large out-of-control bushfire in the Benloch area travelling in a north-northwesterly direction from Burke & Wills Track and Kitchenhams Road.
There is spotting ahead of the main fire.
The fire is impacting or about to impact Kitchenhams Road, Frosts Road, Feeneys Road, Malones Road, Youngs Road, and Nicholls Lane.
You are in danger, act now to protect yourself.
It is too late to leave. The safest option is to take shelter indoors immediately.
The fire is approximately 3000 hectares in size.
There are multiple road closures in the area. 
Another structure at Cobaw, believed to be a shed, appears to have been destroyed in the blaze. (9NEWS)
Another structure at Cobaw, believed to be a shed, appears to have been destroyed in the blaze. (9NEWS) (9NEWS)
• Three Chain Road is closed between Mooneys Lane and Baynton Road. 
• Burke & Wills Track is closed between Bayntons Road to Mission Hill Road through Pastoria and Benloch.
• Mission Hill Road & Emu Flat-Baynton Road are closed between Lancefield-Tooborac Road & Burke & Wills Track.
• Malones Road & Martins Road are closed at the Lancefield-Tooborac Road in Nulla Vale.
Watch and Act warnings are now in place for the below:
Trawool, Granite and Kerrisdale
Unpredictable weather conditions have caused the fire behaviour to become erratic and firefighters are continuing their efforts in difficult terrain. Wind Gusts are causing the fire to burn in several directions, and there has been significant spotting activity.
Weather conditions overnight were favourable in assisting firefighters to work towards securing the perimeter. However, today's windy weather will put pressure on suppression activities. Resources on the fire ground include CFA, & DEWLP, aircraft and plant operators.
The fire is burning towards Lancefield. (9NEWS)
The fire is burning towards Lancefield. (9NEWS)
Residents are also advised that firefighters will be undertaking burn out activities in various parts of the fire area. Fire fighting vehicles will be active in the area during the burn out operations.
Residents need to remain vigilant as the fire behaviour continues to be unpredictable and are again urged to remain alert and activate their bushfire plans, and be aware that trees impacted by fire present an extreme risk to all persons in the area
Don't wait, leaving now is the safest option - conditions may change and get worse very quickly. Emergency Services may not be able to help you.
Traffic management points have been established at the corner of King Parrot Creek Road and Fairview Road, Upper Goulburn Road and Landscape Road and Ennis Road and the Hume Freeway.
Relief Centres have opened at Seymour, at the Aquatic Centre on the corner of Chittick and Pollard Streets, and at the Yea Recreation Reserve, on 18 Snodgrass Street.
Yesterday Premier Daniel Andrews and Emergency Management Commissioner Craig Lapsley said that the annual fire season had begun, and that it seemed to be particularly severe. 
Firefighters are battling spot fires that have flared up away from the main blaze. (9NEWS)
Firefighters are battling spot fires that have flared up away from the main blaze. (9NEWS)
"The message today is a very clear one, the 15-16 fire season is here now, it is absolutely on us and we need to understand that this is going to be a long, hot, dry and dangerous summer," Mr Andrews said.
Commissioner Lapsley said that the temperatures and wind speeds yesterday were the most extreme ever recorded in Victoria for the first week of October. 
Safety Information
When indoors:
• Close all exterior doors, windows and vents and turn off cooling systems.
• Shelter in a room that has a door and or a window to the outside - It is critical to keep an eye on what is happening with the fire.
Water bombing aircraft are on scene. (9NEWS)
Water bombing aircraft are on scene. (9NEWS)
If you cannot get indoors, other last resort options include:
• A large open area like a ploughed paddock, football oval or sporting reserve.
• A large body of water like a dam, lake, river, the ocean or inground pool.
• Try to protect yourself from the fire's heat.
In the car:
• Park behind a solid structure to block the fire's heat or pull over to a cleared area.
• Put on your hazard lights and headlights.
• Turn the engine off, close all windows and ensure that car air vents are closed.
• Get down as low as possible below window level and cover up with a woollen blanket. If you are travelling, do not enter the area, U-turn to safety.
If you are away from home, do not return.
For life or property threatening emergencies call 000.
If you need medical advice for burns or smoke exposure call Nurse on Call on 1300 606 024.
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