By XAVIER SMERDON
POLICE are investigating the cause of a huge grass fire in Wyndham that destroyed 1400 hectares of paddocks in the Little River area.
It took 40 CFA crews and four aircraft, including firefighting helicopter Elvis, almost four hours to get the fire under control just after 7.20pm on Monday 14 January.
A CFA spokesperson said the fire had a front of up to three kilometres wide at one stage.
“The slow moving grass fire travelled in a north westerly direction under the influence of a south easterly wind and at times proved dangerous and difficult for crews to battle,” the spokesperson said.
About 45 minutes later a fire near Lollipop Creek near Werribee was also ignited.
Wyndham Police Inspector Damien Christensen told Star both fires were being treated suspiciously.
“The first fire appears to have been deliberately lit,” Inspector Christensen said.
“They are potentially connected.”
Inspector Christensen said the Little River fire was not a threat to life or property but livestock was at risk.
“If we didn’t have the availability of those CFA choppers then I don’t know if they would have been able to control the fire,” he said.
Detective Senior Constable Steve Oakley said last week that investigators wish to speak to the driver of a dark green single cab utility with a dark green canopy which was seen in the vicinity of Bulban and Edgars Roads on the day of the fire.
“The effect (of the fire) could have been a lot more if it wasn’t contained when it was,” Det Sen Const Oakley said.
“We have patrols out there actively patrolling areas of concern such as the grasslands in Little River.”
Det Sen Const Oakley said the car in question was seen in the area before the fire started.
Fire crews from as far away as Bacchus Marsh and Queenscliff attended the fires.
Anyone with information should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
