Dozens of firefighters under threat from bushfire believed to be deliberately lit

Forty firefighters came under attack from an out-of-control bushfire that is suspected to have been deliberately lit in central Gippsland.

The fire taken from the Princes Highway. CREDIT:

Thousands of residents in 14 towns are on high alert as hundreds of firefighters and aircraft continue to battle the blaze, which spread from 600 hectares on Friday to 10,000 hectares overnight as strong winds swept in from the south west with the evening's cool change.

The fire is about six kilometres south from Rosedale in Victoria's east.

A watch and act warning was issued just after 7:30am on Saturday for 14 towns surrounding the blaze, including Fulham, Giffard West, Kilmany, Kilmany South, Longford, Nambrok, Pearsondale, Rosedale, Sale, Stradbroke, Stradbroke West, Willung, Willung South, Wurruk.

Read the story from The Age by Rachel Wells, Liam Manix and Simone Fox - “Dozens of firefighters under threat from bushfire believed to be deliberately lit.”