Fire at Vic jail puts inmates in lockdown

Prisoners were placed in lockdown during a fire at a minimum security prison north of Melbourne.

Prisoners were not in danger at the Dhurringile Prison, in Murchison, a Victoria Police spokeswoman said.

The fire is believed to have started at a factory on the prison grounds just after 8pm (AEDT) on Tuesday.

A Country Fire Authority spokeswoman said the fire was causing a bit of smoke, but was not a threat to the community.

About 19 fire trucks battled the blaze and it was brought under control about 10pm.

The cause for the fire is not known at this stage.

The minimum security prison has a capacity for 268 prisoners.