General News
29 December, 2025
Flare ups as large fire continues to smoulder
Firefighters continues to douse a fire near Charlton with callouts over the past week.
THE Calder Highway was closed for more than six hours when fire spread for kilometres through crops and stubble.
Police and firefighters feared the fire would cross the Calder at Woosang as more than 200 CFA volunteers were sent to the fireground.
The Calder closure was moved south to Wychitella Road, 4km north of Wedderburn, about 4pm and it was not until late Thursday night police re-opened the highway.
By then, CFA strikes teams from as far south as Romsey and Lancefield had received a police escort through Inglewood and Wedderburn to relieve crews on the scene since the alarm was first raised about 1pm for the fire that started near Charlton-St Arnau Road.
Flames were fanned across the road by strong winds as temperatures hit the mid-40s. There have been reports of at least one home lost in the fire and numerous farm buildings.
Official estimates have the fire burning 2850 hectares
A watch and act was issued by the State Control Centre with the fire heading towards Charlton before winds blew the front towards Woosang.
The CFA said spot fires and ember attacks had been starting up to 600 metres ahead of the main fire. Thousands of homes and businesses in the Charlton and St Arnaud areas were without power. Most had supply restored by Friday morning.
Smoke shrouded much of the district with several “phantom fires” reported across parts of the Loddon. Fine black ash was falling in Dingee about 7pm Thursday.
The fire was downgraded late Thursday after more than 60 CFA units gained the upper hand and stopped the fire about 4km from the Calder Highway at Woosang.
- CHRIS EARL AND
ALEX GRETGRIX