Major bushfires in Victoria

VICTORIA'S BUSHFIRE SEASON HAS BEGUN WITH FIRES BURNING ACROSS THE STATE:

WHERE

Four regions were issued with emergency warnings as more than 100 fires burned across Victoria on Tuesday:

The Cobaw fire about 80km north of Melbourne threatened to spread northeast towards Benloch and Nulla Vale, north of Lancefield, and remained out of control on Tuesday night.

The Tallarook fire was burning out of control near Kerrisdale, south of Seymour.

The Maryknoll fire in the southeast was brought under control on Tuesday evening.

Fire was contained in the Koorlong State Forest, southwest of Mildura.

DAMAGE

Cobaw:

At least one house, numerous sheds, destroyed.

At least 2500ha of public and private land burnt.

Maryknoll and Tallarook:

Less than 5ha burnt in each fire, no reports of property losses.

RESOURCES

About 400 firefighters

Up to 100 trucks

One fire-bombing aircraft

WARNINGS

Emergency warning for Benloch and Nulla Vale, parts of Kerrisdale. Residents advised to leave.

Emergency warning downgraded to a watch and act alert for Maryknoll and Koorlong.

FORECAST

Southwesterly change has passed over the fireground, dropping temperatures by 15C or more.

No rain forecast but strong southerly to southwesterly winds may persist, further fanning fires.