Victoria is currently facing a total fire ban as the state grapples with a worsening bushfire crisis that has resulted in one fatality, the destruction of at least 10 homes, and the devastation of over 50,000 hectares of bushland.
Premier Jacinta Allan declared a state of disaster, impacting 18 local government areas and the Lake Mountain Alpine Resort. According to officials in Wahring, some communities have been reportedly ‘completely obliterated’ by the fires.
Allan emphasized that the declaration was made due to the severe threat to life and property, stating, “It sends a clear message to those advised to evacuate: If you can, you must.”
State authorities are describing this crisis as the most severe bushfire event since the catastrophic Black Summer fires of 2019-2020.
In the heavily affected town of Longwood, located about 50 kilometers north of Melbourne, two adults and a child are still unaccounted for after a fire consumed their residence.
The last known sighting of the missing individuals was outside their now-destroyed home, following instructions from authorities to seek shelter as it was deemed too late to evacuate safely.
It comes as Sydney is bracing for a scorching 43C on Saturday, with authorities warning that the intense heat, paired with strong winds, could be a recipe for extreme fire danger.
Total fire bans are now in place across Greater Sydney to minimise fire risk, with 600 firefighters on standby as authorities monitor more than 40 active blazes in the state.
The Longwood fire has grown to 145,000 hectares in size, with hundreds of crews now deployed to the scene
Bondi, Campbelltown, Camden, Canterbury, Mascot, Mona Vale, Penrith, Richmond and Sydney Olympic Park are all expecting a top of 43C, according to the Bureau of Meteorology, with temperatures in the ‘low to mid-40s’ expected across the southern half of the state.
NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) Commissioner Trent Curtin said crews are ready to be deployed across the state.
We have around 50 aircraft that are either currently deployed or that are ready to respond immediately, right across the state, that includes four heavy helicopters and three large air tankers,’ Commissioner Curtin said.
‘We have an additional 150 aircraft that we can employ.’
The RFS confirmed it will send an extra 200 firefighters to assist with fires in Victoria over the coming days.
In Longwood, where a fast-moving grass fire tore through the Victorian town on Friday, the scenes have been described as apocalyptic.
Longwood’s Country Fire Authority (CFA) captain, George Noye, said locals had been severely impacted.
‘The main street looks like a bomb’s gone off,’ he told ABC News Breakfast. ‘We’ve lost a school. The CFA shed’s still standing. At the moment, even to get around the roads is… dangerous and hazardous.’
A firefighting helicopter flies through smoke above the Lockwood area as crews work to contain bushfires across Victoria
A State of Disaster was declared overnight in 18 fire-affected local government areas and one alpine resort
In the nearby town of Ruffy, properties, including a school, were lost to fire and a local firefighter was hospitalised with third-degree burns to his hands.
About 230km east, a separate fire near the border town of Walwa tore through a pine tree plantation.
The massive Longwood fire has scorched more than 35,000 hectares, while the Walwa blaze has consumed over 17,000.
Both fires – among the fiercest raging across the state – are expected to burn uncontrolled for weeks, despite the efforts of hundreds of firefighters.
Several homes were also destroyed in Harcourt, central Victoria, as the Ravenswood fire tore through on Friday. It remains out of control as of Saturday morning.
Sadly, a man in his 60s was found dead in his vehicle in Harcourt late on Friday night.
In Wahring, 150km northeast of Melbourne, Strathbogie Shire deputy mayor Claire Ewart-Kennedy told the ABC the situation was ‘catastrophic, it’s devastating’.
‘I’ve got communities that are completely obliterated,’ she said early on Saturday.
‘I’ve never seen the type of disruption, displacement of people that I witnessed yesterday, and I’m sure I’ll witness again today.’
Critical infrastructure, including drinking water, power and telecommunications, have been impacted for tens of thousands of people
Premier Jacinta Allan said the fires ‘are widespread, fast-moving and devastating’
Ewart-Kennedy added: ‘It’s still incredibly windy and very dangerous … critical infrastructure has been impacted. We’ve had issues with drinking water. We’ve had issues with telecommunications and power. We’ve still got people cut off in certain areas.’
Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Dean Narramore said a cool change moved through overnight.
‘Thankfully, we didn’t see those really strong winds with that change, but it has led to a direction shift, and… we’re going to see those fires moving towards the east or north east.
‘So if you were east of any of the fire zones yesterday, you were okay, but today you could be in harm’s way.’
Soaring temperatures exacerbated Friday’s fire risk, with the mercury soaring into the mid-40s in central Victoria, while wind gusts were clocked at up to 90km/h.
Early on Saturday, multiple fires were at emergency level – the highest danger rating – as the Country Fire Authority declared a total fire ban for the day.
The agency warned warm and strong winds would likely fan the blazes, many of which ignited due to lightning strikes.
Allan said fire activity had become more extreme as existing blazes sparked new out-of-control fires.
Firefighters work to black out an area around a house as flames catch trees in Lockwood East
A total fire ban is now in place across Victoria as firefighters battle to control the fires
‘This combination of weather factors simply creates the conditions where fires in the landscape can very quickly become uncontrollable,’ Allan said in Melbourne.
Allan said assistance will be made available for those who’ve lost homes and had to evacuate and need immediate food, clothing and medication.
Extended payments will be made when the property losses are confirmed.
Farmers who’ve lost livestock, crops and had other damage to their properties will also be eligible for assistance.
Emergency Management Victoria said the situation remained incredibly dynamic, describing fire conditions as ‘catastrophic and extreme’, and the gravest in the state since Black Summer in 2019-20.
