<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>An out-of-control bushfire is burning dangerously close to homes in </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/melbourne" rel="" target="_blank" title="Melbourne"><span>Melbourne</span></a><span>'s east under erratic winds and heatwave conditions.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A Watch and Act warning has been issued for a fire burning through dense and dry bushland at Dr Ken Leversha Reserve in Montrose, at the foot of the Dandenong Ranges.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Country Fire Authority urge residents in Montrose and Kilsyth to prepare to leave as gusty winds blow flames in the direction of homes to its south and east. </span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>KEEP UP TO DATE WITH WARNINGS HERE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://emergency.vic.gov.au/respond/" rel="" target="_blank" title="https://emergency.vic.gov.au/respond/"><strong><span>https://emergency.vic.gov.au/respond/</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="tweet" data-tweet-id="1900773453520924704?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" data-user="9NewsAUS"></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>There are homes within 50 to 100 metres of the fire in Montrose.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The bushfire ignited about 2pm today and has since burned through more than eight hectares of land.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>More than 40 firefighter trucks and three helicopters are at the scene, fighting to contain the blaze. </span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/melbourne-bushfire-montrose-dr-ken-leversha-reserve-warning/17511f05-a908-44bf-8102-43ff3f79f188" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Crews are basically putting the line around it and making sure that the properties on the southern and eastern side of the fire are safe," Country Fire Authority chief officer Alen Slijepcevic said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The concern for firefighters is strong westerly winds forecast to arrive, which threaten to worsen the conditions.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/darwin-alawa-man-allegedly-armed-with-crossbow-arrested-during-dv-callout/af009a65-3ba3-460e-a553-947b7bfe976d" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Man allegedly armed with crossbow arrested during DV call-out</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>According to the Country Fire Authority, it is too early to determine how the fire started.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Temperatures reached the mid-30s in Melbourne today as a band of heat moved over several southeast states. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Horsham hit 39 degrees. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The entire state of Victoria was under a high fire danger warning today, with the warning to stay in place into tomorrow. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Temperatures in Melbourne are forecast to drop to 26 degrees tomorrow with a chance of rain.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span></span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. 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