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Victorian grass fires near Ballarat under control

All grass fires in Victoria are contained or under control as a cool change sweeps through the state to help firefighting crews.

CFA officers and their fire trucks.

A grassfire near Ballarat in Victoria is now under control thanks to a favourable weather change. (AAP)

Favourable conditions have helped crews contain or bring under control grass fires which posed a threat to property in central Victoria.

Buildings and vehicles were destroyed on Friday as firefighters battled out-of-control fires near Ballarat.

Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp confirmed properties had been destroyed but was unsure if it was a large shed or a house.

"At this stage I've been briefed that there are property losses at both the Mount Mercer and Bunker Hill fires," Mr Crisp told ABC TV.

One blaze started on Friday afternoon in the suburb of Haddon and quickly posed a threat to property.

Footage from the area showed sheds burning and flames devouring vehicles.

Residents were initially told it was too late to leave their homes, but the threat to the communities of Bunkers Hill, Lucas, Ross Creek and Smythes Creek was downgraded from emergency to advice on Friday night

Further south, a grassfire at Mount Mercer, between Ballarat and Geelong, flared up and posed a threat, but that is also at an advice level.

The cool change sweeping through Victoria has helped crews contain all blazes.

There is a high chance of showers over the weekend, with a predicted maximum temperature of 11 degrees on Saturday in Ballarat.

Mr Crisp said the cause of the fires is unknown but will be investigated.

Advice warnings are also in place for grass fires at Mount Duneed, near Geelong, and Jeeralang in Gippsland, east of Melbourne.


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