An out-of-control bushfire in central Victoria has destroyed multiple properties and three people remained unaccounted for, as authorities warned lives could be lost due to the catastrophic fire conditions.
The emergency management commissioner, Tim Wiebusch, on Friday confirmed the Longwood bushfire was out of control and had destroyed both community and residential property in the town of Ruffy, about 175km north of Melbourne.
“We can’t confirm those numbers at this stage, it’s still too dangerous to get in and on the ground. But we have seen through our aerial intelligence gathering helicopters that we have lost multiple properties,” Wiebusch said.
Three people unaccounted for after ‘catastrophic’ fires in Victoria – video
The Victoria police deputy commissioner Bob Hill said that in nearby Longwood East three people – a man, woman and child – remained unaccounted for.
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He said firefighters had spoken to the group on Thursday morning and told them it was too late to leave the area. When crews returned later that afternoon, “the house that they saw those three people standing in front of had been completely destroyed”.
The bushfire burning at Longwood overnight. Photograph: Tatong CFA
“They may be safe, they may be alive. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, but we are keeping an open mind, and will continue to conduct investigations in those circumstances,” Hill said.
Burnt-out buildings in the township of Ruffy. Photograph: George Noye
He noted another group of three people who were earlier unaccounted for had been located and stressed the need to communicate with friends and family.
Wiebusch said about 40 fires were burning across Victoria due to a severe to extreme heatwave combined with damaging winds and storms. He said the fire potential was “catastrophic” across four regions – north central, northern country, south west and Wimmera – the first time such a warning had been issued since the black summer fires of 2019-20, with “extreme” conditions across the rest of the state.
“Anywhere in the state today will be challenging and difficult conditions for our firefighters. With the winds that we’ll see today, there will be periods where our aviation fleet – that is over 70 aircraft today – will not be able to fly,” he said.
“If you’re in a bushfire-prone area, a bushland area in Victoria, our strongest advice is leave now. If you haven’t left already, if you don’t leave now, it could result in your lives life being lost.”
The bushfire at Longwood. Photograph: Tatong CFA
The premier, Jacinta Allan, said it was “not courageous” to stay and defend property in the conditions.
“We have seen in recent history how fires of this magnitude on days like today, with the extreme weather that is being experienced across the state, fires overwhelm people, equipment and any preparation you thought you may have made,” she said.
“You will not win simply against the fires of these magnitudes that are created on days like today.”
Allan confirmed emergency relief payments would be made available for residents in the local government areas of Strathbogie, Towong, Mansfield and Murrindindi affected by fires, after discussions with the commonwealth government.
“I do want to emphasise, given there is a number of fires in other parts of the state, this assistance will be extended to other local government areas,” she told ABC Radio later on Friday.
Burnt-out buildings in the township of Ruffy. Photograph: George Noye
Earlier, the Country Fire Authority captain George Noye said the Longwood fire had destroyed a former school turned community hub and at least 10 properties in Ruffy. A member of his crew was hospitalised with third-degree burns to his hands.
“The town’s been impacted severely. The main street looks like a bomb’s gone off,” he told ABC Radio.
Another firefighter, Darryl Otzen, said his own property in Ruffy was destroyed as he was out battling the blaze. He feared there was “nothing left” of the town, located in the Strathbogie Ranges.
“It’s a bit of shit when you’ve been out for two-and-a-half days and you come back on the truck and drive past what used to be your house,” Otzen said.
‘Absolutely devastating’
Noye said the fire had been “absolutely devastating”, saying “countless homes” were lost. He said there was not much firefighters could do in the coming days amid hot, dry and windy conditions.
“We’ve been through fire before but this is the first time we’ve been fully hit with the fire front,” he said. “The community is incredibly resilient and we will get through this.
“We did our best. Thankfully we’re all alive.”
Chris McDermott, a farmer from the area, said he had managed to save two houses on his property but his brothers-in-law, who live on either side of him, were not as lucky. He said the worst of the damage occurred after a wind change about 11.30am on Thursday.
“We’ve had a lot of ground burned out where we are,” he said. “We’ve managed to save two houses on the property and a shearing shed but the rest of the infrastructure, it’s pretty much gone.”
Bushfire smoke near Longwood on Thursday. Photograph: Steve Womersley/The Guardian
He said one brother-in-law lost “everything” – including his house, shed, tractor and cars. The other lost shearing and hay sheds.
“Both of those brother-in-laws have lost stock too.”
There were multiple emergency warnings related to the Longwood fire as of noon on Friday.
Emergency warnings were issued after grass fires broke out on Friday afternoon, with one travelling towards Natimuk, about 25km west of the regional city of Horsham, and another at Streatham, travelling towards Skipton, 50km west of Ballarat.
In the north-east, a bushfire burning about 25km west of Walwa, also prompted evacuation warnings.
The fire had burned through 20,000 hectares of land as of Friday morning and was so fierce it generated its own weather system, including lightning and thunder. Wiebusch said this included 12,000 to 16,000 hectares of well-matured pine plantation.
“But at this stage, there have not been any property losses reported as a result of that significant fire,” he said.
The chief fire officer for Forest Fire Management Victoria, Chris Hardman, said storms had also ignited 13 new fires in the alpine region, central and east Gippsland.
“Of those fires, one of those has some potential to impact community today – and that is the Dargo-Talbotville fire. That fire has been prioritised.”
About 35,000 properties were without power across the state as at 2.15pm on Friday, due to several reasons including strong winds and lightning.
With Australian Associated Press
