Students have been evacuated from Overnewton Anglican Community College as a fire rages close to houses on the Calder Freeway at Taylors Lakes.
The MFB has issued a Watch and Act on a fast-moving grass fire near the Calder Park Thunderdome which has yet to be brought under control.
The Watch and Act applies to Calder Park, Sydenham, Hillside (Melton), Sydenham Park, Keilor North, Taylors Lakes.
More than 30 fire crews are fighting the fire, which is moving in a northerly direction from Calder Park Drive towards Victoria Road and Darlington Road.
Taylors Lakes resident Georgina told The Star Weekly that a fire was “behind Overnewton Anglican Community College… now behind our house on the Calder Freeway. Smoke and fire engines everywhere. Scary”.
The fire has caused the closure of the Calder Freeway in the area in both directions.
Outbound traffic will be detoured via Kings Road on to the Melton Highway near Watergardens.
At this stage inbound lanes of the freeway are still open.
Smoke is visible from surrounding areas and is expected for up to three hours.
