Police are hunting an arsonist over a grassfire that threatened houses in Point Cook on Saturday night.
The fire broke out in swampland off Featherbrook Drive about 10pm after a car that had been dumped in the field caught fire.
Police believe the car was stolen and deliberately torched.
About a dozen crews battled the blaze, with the CFA advising nearby residents to activate their bushfire survival plans.
Police were forced to cordon off part of the street amid concerns the fire would spread and threaten nearby homes.
Werribee CFA first lieutenant Darryl Wells said the fire was fairly serious, with firefighters forced to wait for it to burn out because they were unable to drive trucks into the swamp. The car’s charred remains are being examined by Wyndham detectives.
Saturday’s fire was one of more than 30 blazes attended by the city’s firefighters since January 12.
Mr Wells said Werribee crews were called to 34 incidents between January 14 and 17, including grassfires at Little River, Epping and Kangaroo Ground.
Point Cook station officer Sean Kennedy said the brigade had responded to 33 calls ranging from grassfires to blazes related
to airconditioning.
He urged Wyndham residents to remain aware of their surroundings and keep their properties clear of long grass and other
fire hazards.
