General News
19 December, 2025
Fire cause remains unclear following fireworks
A small but highly visible fire that broke out just minutes after Ararat’s Carols by Candlelight fireworks display has been officially deemed “underdetermined”, leaving locals none the wiser about what sparked the late-night blaze. The fire occurred around 10pm on Friday night near the corner of Moore Street and Queen Street, roughly 600 metres from Alexandra Gardens, where hundreds of people had just gathered for the annual Christmas carols event and fireworks finale.
With warm and blustery conditions lingering into the evening, the fire quickly engulfed a hedge close to a Queen Street home, drawing a sizeable crowd of onlookers who had only moments earlier been applauding the fireworks lighting up the night sky.
As CFA crews worked to contain the fire, speculation quickly spread among those watching — and later across town — about whether hot debris from the fireworks display could have played a role.
The Ararat Advocate put those questions directly to Country Fire Authority media, asking whether the cause of the fire had been identified, whether fireworks were being considered as a factor, and whether Victoria Police were involved in the investigation.
In a brief response, a CFA spokesperson said: “An investigation into the cause of this fire was conducted. The cause of the fire is underdetermined.”
The Advocate also asked about a second call-out roughly 20 minutes later to Alexandra Gardens, where the fireworks had taken place, but no further details were provided.
While no injuries were reported and damage was limited, the timing and proximity of the fire — on a warm, windy night just after fireworks — has left many residents curious about how close Ararat may have come to a more serious incident.
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