Fast moving fire in Donnybrook moving toward Craigieburn Rd Fire burns near a quarry in Donnybrook. Picture: Kylie Else Source: Leader A RAGING grassfire north of Melbourne has Donnybrook residents on high alert this afternoon as 21 fire trucks try to put out the blaze. The CFA has issued an emergency warning for Vearings Rd and Craigieburn Rd in the Wollart area. The fire is travelling towards Vearings Rd, Craigieburn Rd East and Epping Rd and is expected to impact immediately. It is approximately 200 hectares in size and is out of control. CFA officials are encouraging locals to follow their bushfire survival plan. State Control Centre spokesman Kevin Monk said the Donnybrook fire had "really taken off" this afternoon and continued to threaten life and property. "It's really of concern to us because it has the chance to run into some housing on the east of Craigieburn and the Hume Fwy," he said. At about 1.30pm it's just done a major run and burnt through about 200ha, which shows show serious the conditions are with strong winds and hot and dry conditions. He said he was aware of some residents in Epping North who had already evacuated their homes as a precaution. This fire has potential to burn into communities east of the Hume Fwy, so that's a decision they've made. We would encourage these surrounding communities to follow their bushfire survival plans. The impact is almost immediate for the area east of Craigieburn and these warnings will be enforced throughout the afternoon until this fire is rounded up. On days like today fires can just about start anywhere. It's so dry hot and windy across the west, it doesn't take much these days to get a fire going. The Hume Freeway has been closed in both directions between Cooper St and Sydney Rd. VicRoads Incident Response Services and emergency services are on site and directing traffic. Drivers travelling through the area are advised to use caution as there is heavy smoke over the road. Drivers are advised to use the Old Hume Highway as an alternative. Earlier this afternoon, authorities had activated a Watch and Act alert as fire fighters battled to contain the medium-sized fast-moving blaze. More than 20 trucks are at the scene. The grassfire travelled in a southerly direction along Donnybrook Rd towards Craigieburn Rd, before it crossed at Summerhill Rd. Residents in Epping, Wollert and Craigieburn are warned plumes of smoke will be visibly billowing from the area. The CFA has urged residents to follow their bushfire survival plans. A Helitack and two planes are dumping water on the site. The fire was called in shortly after 1.20pm. Keep up to date with CFA fire events at its website. Meanwhile, a 51-year-old contractor has suffered serious injuries while building containment lines in Victoria's west. WorkSafe are investigating after the male contractor - who was deployed to the Glenlogie fire about 45km east of Ararat to assist with building containment lines - received severe injuries to his leg after an accident involving machinery at 10.28am. The worker was airlifted to the Alfred Hospital in a serious condition. with Cheryl Balfour and Allan Valente, Leader Newspapers