FIREfighters continue to tackle a hay bale fire at Thoona hours after the blaze broke out.
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The fire started inside a large shed at an Irvine Road property just before 8pm on Wednesday.
More than 600 large bales — enough to fill 18 semi-trailers — caught fire.
Firefighters worked to ensure a home on the property was not under threat.
Natural combustion is thought to have started the fire, which CFA district 23 operations officer Paul Scragg said was relatively common.
“Some years are worse than others, it depends on what the grass is like before they cut the hay,” he said.
“If it gets moisture in it, it can sit there and catch fire.”
Firefighters will let the fire burn itself out, and Mr Scragg said that would likely take several days.
Smoke is expected to linger.
A large steel shed which housed the hay was badly damaged, but was still standing yesterday.
Firefighters travelled between the brigade and the property to monitor the fire, and a tanker remained on standby yesterday.
Mr Scragg said farmers should not store wet hay.
“I think it will continue for two or three days,” he said.
“The owner will keep an eye on it and the brigade will pop around from time to time.”
Wangaratta firefighters also responded to a blaze which caused about $20,000 damage to a home in Franklin Street yesterday.
An electrical malfunction caused a dishwasher to catch fire about 8.40am, burning parts of a kitchen.
A woman and her two children were forced to flee.
Senior station officer Greg Mitchell said firefighters had kept damage to a minimum.
