Firefighters have contained a bushfire that threatened lives and property near a popular holiday spot in central Victoria.
The Country Fire Authority (CFA) said they battled two fires in Lyal that were heading in a north-easterly direction towards Lake Eppalock on Monday afternoon.
At one stage, the CFA warned holiday makers that it was too late to leave and they needed to take shelter.
Fire fighters battled the blazes with 40 fire trucks and three aircraft. They contained it by about 6pm when the fire warning was downgraded and residents were told they were no longer under threat.
CFA state duty officer Brett Boatman said that despite mild weather conditions in the area, a strong wind was driving the fire.
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"That's been the issue, a wind-driven fire in grasslands - they can still move along pretty quickly even on benign days," Mr Boatman said. He said the cause of the fires was unknown and under investigation.
About 150 firefighters will continue working on the fire overnight.
