Emergency fire warning for rural Victorian community

An emergency warning has been issued for the grass fire at Boggy Creek Road, Myrrhee, in rural Victoria with residents urged to stay indoors.

The Country Fire Authority says the blaze remains out of control and is heading east.

Properties in the Wangaratta - Whitfield Road area between Edi Cutting and Gentle Annie Lane north of Whitfield are affected.

The fire broke out at Myrrhee, near Wangaratta, in the state’s north east earlier this afternoon.

A spokesman for the Country Fire Authority told Nine.com.au it is deploying 36 tankers and numerous aircraft to tackle the blaze.

“Residents there should take shelter indoors. It’s too late to leave,” he said.

A relief centre for affected residents has been set up in the Moyhu Soldiers Memorial Hall at 24 Bartley Street, Moyhu.

Fifty-four properties are currently affected by the blaze which is moving in a north-easterly direction.

For full updates on the fire and other incidents, visit emergency.vic.gov.au