Montrose, Kilsyth residents urged to keep alert as out-of-control bushfire rages, water bombers deployed
Helicopter water bombers are battling a bushfire in Melbourne’s outer east that is raging out of control in sweltering 37C heat.
Victoria
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Helicopter water bombers are battling an out of control bushfire raging in Melbourne’s outer east.
Police have blocked off all major roads in Montrose as firefighters tackle the fire that broke out at Dr Ken Leversha Reserve early Saturday afternoon.
A Watch and Act warning issued just after 4pm urged residents to pack clothes, phone charges and medicines to last for at least three days with unpredictable weather conditions expected.
However that was downgraded to keep watch late on Saturday evening/
Montrose, 33km east of Melbourne’s CBD, is part of the Shire of Yarra Ranges and well known for its bushy terrain.
Dozens of onlookers have crammed lookout points on Mt Dandenong to watch emergency services tackle the fire in 37C heat as gusty winds adding to the difficult conditions.
Kilsyth and Montrose residents have been told to prepare to leave as firefighters grapple with the blaze.
WATCH & ACT - BUSHFIRE - Prepare to Leave is issued for Montrose and Kilsyth.
— VicEmergency (@vicemergency) March 15, 2025
Prepare to Leave immediately. Leave as soon as you are ready, as roads will become busy as people leave.
More details at https://t.co/lMqiDb5FYXpic.twitter.com/JaAgLGCJHP
A watch and act alert is in place for the areas surrounding the Montrose reserve.
The fire had burned through two hectares as of 4pm.
“Prepare to Leave immediately. Leave as soon as you are ready, as roads will become busy as people leave,” a warning from Vic Emergency read.
“Protect yourself and your family. If you are not prepared, leave now. Don’t wait until it is too late — leave early.
“If you are away from home, do not return.”
Local Glenn Sealey said after a long, hot summer conditions were ideal for a fire.
“The bush and scrub out here is dry, it’s hot and we have been lucky so far this year but I’m not surprised this has happened”.
“Hopefully they can get it under control soon but the wind is picking up so it could take some time”.
A resident who lives near the entrance to the reserve told the Herald Sun he saw a group of teenagers leaving the area minutes after the blaze began.
The resident, who did not wish to be identified, said that he saw the group entering the reserve wearing backpacks.
“Fifteen minutes later they came walking back up and ten minutes after that all the sirens started going off,” the resident said.
“There were two fires, one on Sheffield Rd and the other down the end of Leversha Reserve. They started kind of at the same time and there was no lightning around,” he said.
The resident was working in his front yard at the time and took note of the group, being the area was usually a “very quiet place”.
“There are walking tracks in there but they are not well defined and it’s really only locals that go in there,” the resident said.
It is understood that police were then seen speaking to the group.
Victoria Police were unable to comment on Saturday night, with it too early to determine a cause as the fire is still underway.
An expected wind change tomorrow could pose new dangers to residents and fire crews working to contain the blaze.
Originally published as Montrose, Kilsyth residents urged to keep alert as out-of-control bushfire rages, water bombers deployed
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