News

Fire causes smoke plumes over Shepparton

By Monique Preston

Oct 19, 2026

Firefighters make sure the area is blacked out. Photo: John Delzoppo

A grass fire at Grahamvale saw plumes of smoke blown across parts of residential areas of Shepparton on Saturday, October 17.

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Fire Rescue Victoria and the CFA were called to the fire, in a paddock opposite Grahamvale Primary School, shortly after 2.25pm.

At times, the smoke was so thick that visibility for firefighters was only metres, and part of Grahamvale Rd was closed to traffic because of the poor visibility.

Smoke also wafted across streets on the northern end of Shepparton, fanned by westerly winds.

A smoke alert was put out on VicEmergency, warning of extreme smoke in the area.

An FRV spokesperson said a patch of grass and scrub measuring about 500m by 300m was burnt in the fire.

Firefighters had initially been concerned about stopping the fire before it got into orchards abutting two sides of the paddock, and the school across the road.

It took firefighters an hour to bring the fire under control, with seven CFA tankers and two FRV appliances used to fight the fire.