Country Fire Authority brigades and 25 private vehicles responded to the blaze on Malim Road, near Ararat-Mortlake Road at 2.23pm.

About 300 metres of fencing was destroyed, 15 acres of standing barley and 50 large, square hay bales.

There were no injuries during the incident.

Fire authority District 16 Operations Manager Bernie Fradd said it took about two and half hours for brigades to control the blaze.

“Police closed the Ararat-Mortlake road for a couple of hours,” he said.

Mr Fradd said the blaze was an accident but also an important reminder to be careful during the fire season.

“Down south of Ararat there is not a lot of wind and the fire danger index is not high,” he said.

“Take care on days, even days that are not terribly hot like yesterday, because the fuel is dry.”

“If farmers can have a unit on scene to attack the fire immediately it certainly helps – a lot of farmers are able to do that and keep tankers nearby while harvesting.”

Twenty-five farmer-owned tankers responded to the blaze.

They joined Willaura, Maroona, Tatyoon, Langi Rogan, Yalla-y-Poora and Mininera brigades responded to the incident.

To water bombers were also dispatched from Stawell to put out the fire.

Mr Fradd said there was lots of fuel for fires across the Grampians region.

“We are urging people to take care, there is a lot of fuel, a lot of crops still standing and a lot of heavy grassland,” he said.

Take care over the next couple of months and if we can reduce fire that is good for everyone.”