Total fire ban declared across entirety of Victoria as state’s apocalyptic bushfire crisis rages on, trio found safe from Longwood fire

At least 130 homes have been lost so far as Victoria’s bushfire crisis continues for its second day, with State of Disaster declared overnight in 18 fire-affected local government areas and one alpine resort. A total fire ban is now in place across the entire state amid apocalyptic scenes emerging in Longwood, where a fast-moving grass fire continues to burn through the town. An out-of-control bushfire at Carlisle River has prompted authorities to issue a warning for those in the area to “leave immediately” as the fire travels in a north-easterly direction towards Colac. On Saturday evening, those in affected areas around the Longwood and Walwa bushfires have been told it is too late to leave safely and “you must take shelter now”. At least 130 structures have been lost so far, according to Victoria’s Emergency Management Commissioner Tim Wiebusch. “But that is a conservative number, and we are expecting there could be more,” he said. Around 50 structures at Ravenswood and Harcourt have been lost, while in Longwood around 30 structures. Significant livestock cropping land and vineyards have been impacted or destroyed by the Longwood fire. A fire in Yarroweyah near Cobram has caused “significant livestock and also agricultural impacts,” Wiebusch said. Commissioner Wiebusch confirmed a number of the bushfires were sparked due to lightning, however, the cause of the fires will be investigated. More fires are set to ravage particularly through the Otways and the Gippsland region due to lightning that occurred yesterday and overnight. Premier Allan has already confirmed well over 300,000 hectares of land has been burnt and 38,000 homes and businesses are without power. Late on Friday night, Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan declared a State of Disaster. “This declaration gives our authorities extra powers to confront an emergency of extraordinary scale and danger. Tonight, we have reached that level of danger,” she said. “This does not change specific advice currently in place for anyone in fire-affected areas. “But it sends a clear message to those who have been advised to leave: if you can, you must.” Three people who authorities believed at the time to be a woman, man and child who were missing, have been clarified to be three adults. Authorities have confirmed the three adults have been found safe after being unaccounted for in Longwood East, Premier Allan announced on Saturday morning. ADF enlisted to help in VictoriaPrime Minister Anthony Albanese has confirmed the Australian Defence Force will provide support to firefighting efforts in Victoria. Addressing media, he said the support would include providing access to infrastructure as well as personnel. “There are multiple dangerous bushfires burning across Victoria, some of which pose a threat to life and property for those who live, work or holiday in those areas. And the situation is far from over, and a massive firefighting effort is underway as we speak,” Mr Albanese said. “This is a crucial time for Victorians, for them to listen to the advice of emergency services and being ready to enact emergency plans. “The ADF have been requested to provide accommodation support for the Victorian Country Fire Service, and once again, we see our Defence Force personnel providing that support, both through personnel, but also through infrastructure. “This includes access and use of Gaza Ridge Barracks in South Bandiana and potentially other facilities in the state, if required. Orders have been issued to action this request.” Ten fires out-of-control, 67 burning across VictoriaAs of Saturday afternoon, there are a total of 67 fires burning across the state, with ten of those remaining out-of-control. Residents have been urged to “take shelter now” in communities around the Longwood bushfire, Carlisle River fire and Walwa region fire. Warnings are now in place across more than 800,000 hectares of land in Victoria. Couple watches home engulf in flames on security camera In an emotional announcement, artists and farmers, Michelle and Chris from Mt Budd in central Victoria announced their property fell victim to the Longwood fire on Friday morning. “We watched our house being consumed on a security camera until the live feed was cut yesterday about 4:30pm,” Chris and Michelle wrote in statement. The couple said it was sad to watch their “beautiful” Mt Budd property and photography studio, which showcases contemporary Australian landscape art be destroyed by the blaze. “Forgive us if we don’t reply to messages at this point in time. We need a little space to absorb the situation,” they wrote. “Our hearts go out to our friends and neighbours who are in a similar situation,” they added. Three firefighters have been injured while battling fires. In Ruffy, a firefighter suffered severe hand injuries — and another firefight was reportedly hit in the face by a hose in the Natimuk fire. Another interstate firefighter, who has a pre-existing condition experienced a medical episode and was flown to hospital. Police have also confirmed a man, 60, was found dead in his car, in his paddock near the Ravenswood South bushfire. Emergency services found him at about 4.45pm on Friday. Authorities have stated the man’s death is “unknown” and believed not be “directly related to the fire”. His property was not impacted by the fire, according to Victoria police. Premier Allan has expressed her “thoughts” to the man’s family and said the Harcourt community is grieving his death as he died in such proximity to the fire. State of Disaster declaration The areas covered by the declaration include: Alpine Shire Ararat Rural City Colac Otway Shire Corangamite Shire East Gippsland Shire Golden Plains Shire Greater Bendigo City Horsham Rural City Lake Mountain Alpine Resort (Unincorporated) Mansfield Shire Mildura Rural City Mitchell Shire Moira Shire Mount Alexander Shire Murrindindi Shire Pyrenees Shire Strathbogie Shire Towong Shire Wellington Shire In an update provided by Country Fire Authority (CFA) chief officer Jason Heffernan on Saturday morning, he confirmed the fires at Longwood, Walwa and Ravenswood were all still a concern for firefighters. “The Longwood fire is still experiencing the westerly winds following the change and frontal system that moved through the state of Victoria yesterday,” he said. ”It still is very much uncontained.” He said the Walwa fire is heading in a south-easterly direction for most of the morning and is now travelling easterly. “People in that area, I need you to be really careful about which warning you are looking at and which direction you want to go, because we obviously don’t want you to drive into the path of the fire,” he said. Meanwhile, the grassfire at Ravenswood is heading in a westerly direction and is still a concern for local authorities. ‘Not acceptable‘: Firies call out politicians Meanwhile, a Victorian firefighter out in the field is claiming he and his colleagues don’t have adequate resources to battle the catastrophic blazes. “We’ve just been out fighting the grass and scrub fire … it’s a total fire ban day 40 degree heat at the moment,” TikTok User Levy Busters said. “This is not acceptable. How many politicians would be driving around in a 29-year-old vehicle, or driving around a vehicle without airconditioning on a day like today? “Yeah, those volunteers are expected to do that now.” ‘Best of Australians’ comes out Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has spoken about the devastating bushfires sweeping across Australia from the National Situation Room in Canberra. In a statement, the prime minister pointed to the Australian spirit being shown during the devastating bushfires. “This is a time where Australians are once again showing that at the worst of times we see the best of the Australian character,” Mr Albanese said. Mr Albanese confirmed he had regular and ongoing contact with state premiers, which will continue across a number day. He also took a moment to extend his thoughts to the victims of the apocalyptic fires. “I want to specifically send my thoughts to those Victorians who have had the devastating news they lost their homes over the last 24 hours, Mr Albanese said. “This will be incredibly traumatic for them and one of the issues that needs to be dealt with in the aftermath of something like this is mental health support.” Mr Albanese spoke of the multiple and dangerous bushfires across Victoria, urging locals to listen to advice from authorities. “The situation is far from over and a massive fire fighting effort is underway as we speak. “This is a crucial time for Victorians for them to listen to advice from emergency services and being ready to enact emergency plans. Declared a state of emergency Following Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan’s declaration of a State of Disaster, she told ABC the key focus for the declaration is to give support to emergency services to protect lives. “It provides additional support to the emergency services to evacuate people in places where the fire has become very dangerous and unsafe, but given the situation on the ground will remain dangerous once the front passes, it provides support for our emergency services for the movement of people in and out of fire affected communities,” she said on Saturday morning. “This is solely focused on protecting Victorian lives and also giving every support possible to our emergency services who are out there on the frontline.” By Friday evening, hundreds of firefighters had been deployed to control the blaze, in addition to others southwest of Euroa, and Walwa, near Albury-Wodonga on the NSW border. George Noye, the Country Fire Authorities (CFA) captain for the town, said Longwood 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.” The catastrophic conditions have drawn comparisons to the devastating Black Summer bushfires over 2019-20 – but authorities warn the current models could be “worse”. The state’s fire ban means no fire can be lit in the open air or allowed to remain alight from 12.01am to 11.59pm. CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan said the ban has been declared due to several fires in the landscape as a result of Friday’s catastrophic conditions. “Firefighters are battling multiple fires across Victoria in difficult conditions today with extreme heat and strong winds.” he said. “Crews have been working hard this week and today to protect their communities. We’re asking Victorians to follow the strict conditions associated with the total fire ban declaration.” “Understand how the increased fire risk will impact you and ensure your fire plan covers all possible contingencies.” Tens of thousands have lost power as a result of the blaze. Authorities have been pleading for residents to resist any temptation to try to defend their homes. One firefighter has been hospitalised with “significant” third degree burns to their hand, suffered while fighting the Longwood blaze in Ruffy. Catastrophic Fire Danger is forecast for the North Central, Northern Country, South West and Wimmera fire weather districts, while extreme Fire Danger is likely in the Central, East Gippsland, Mallee, North East and West and South Gippsland districts, the Bureau of Meteorology has stated.