Two hay fires in about 21 hours have kept the region’s firefighters busy.
More than 130 round hay bales stacked in rows in a paddock at Merrigum were destroyed in a fire on Tuesday, December 28.
The fire on the Lilford Rd property also spread to nearby grass, burning about five hectares.
Firefighters were called to the fire at 5.21pm, with firefighters from Kyabram, Girgarre, Stanhope, Undera, Mooroopna and Merrigum attending.
A stop was called on the fire at 9pm, with the landowner left to monitor it overnight.
The landowner also ploughed a dirt break around the fire area and released irrigation water into the paddock.
The cause of the fire was still under investigation but is not deemed to be suspicious.
Firefighters were called to a second hay fire on a property on the Murray Valley Hwy, Yambuna, at 2.45pm the following day.
CFA District 20 Commander Robin McNally said about 20 or 30 large square bales in a haystack were destroyed in the fire, which started from an angle grinder being used close to the haystack and sparks igniting the hay.
Firefighters from Echuca Village, Echuca, Tongala, Wyuna and Kyabram brigades attended the fire, staying for about an hour.
The farmer ploughed a firebreak around the fire and it was left to burn while they monitored it.
As is the case with most hay fires these days, both fires were left to burn out under supervision by property owners, with some help from the CFA.
However, Mr McNally said firefighters were to return to the Yambuna fire on Thursday night to completely extinguish it before the really hot weather started.
With the Bureau of Meteorology forecasting 38°C on Saturday, 39°C on Sunday and 40°C on Monday, Mr McNally urged farmers and other residents to be fire safe.
“Restrict the use of heavy equipment, angle grinders, slashers and mowers because it could cause a spark,” he said.
He urged people to consider postponing any non-essential work with this equipment to when the weather had cooled down.
“In coming weeks would be a much better time to do this (work),” he said.
CFA District 22 commander Mark Narayan echoed these sentiments.
He urged farmers and contractors to ensure their machinery was well maintained and to always carry a portable fire extinguisher in machinery.
He also said they should have a communication plan to contact someone either at their nearby house or shed, or a neighbour with a water cart, to help get on top of any fires that did start quickly.
Mr Narayan said 80 per cent of header fires started in an engine compartment of the machinery.
“If there is someone on scene of a small fire with an extinguisher, they can do a lot to protect life and property,” he said.
While no total fire bans had yet been announced, Mr Narayan said the area was “pushing towards very high danger levels” for fires.