Firefighters are battling to gain the upper hand as smoke from an out-of-control blaze at an illegal rubbish tip is drifting over parts of Melbourne's north.
Smoke from the fire at an abandoned tip in Somerton is affecting homes on Saturday and drifting towards Craigieburn North, the Country Fire Authority says.
Residents are being advised to remain indoors and to close all windows, and switch off any air-conditioners.
A security guard nearby reportedly saw lightning spark the fire about 2.30am on Friday.
A pile of waste measuring about 100 metres wide and 10 metres high was well alight when firefighters arrived at the tip on Patullos Lane.
It is unclear what is in the rubbish, but Hume City Council believes the waste - which includes timber, bricks, metal, plastics, broken asphalt and tiles - could be contaminated.
There are also fears it may include material containing asbestos.
A blaze at the tip last year smouldered for weeks after the CFA used 50,000 litres of water to put it out.
The council has been trying to force the operators to clean up the site for a year, which was illegally being used as a dumping group for all kinds of waste.
The council, the Environment Protection Agency and the CFA have tried to pursue Ecotec Woodwaste Pty in the courts.
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