Authorities estimate that at least 119 structures have been destroyed and more than 300,000 hectares of land scorched as bushfires continue to burn across Victoria, with officials warning that some fires could remain active for weeks.
Emergency Management Commissioner Tim Wiebusch told reporters on Saturday that preliminary assessments suggested around 50 homes had been lost in the Ravenswood and Harcourt fire alone, stressing that the figure was likely conservative. He also said fire damage had forced the closure of the Bendigo railway line.
Wiebusch said the Longwood fire had destroyed about 30 structures and caused extensive losses to livestock, farmland and vineyards. He added that approximately 20 structures were lost in the Natimuk grass fire, 10 in Yarrowee and five in the Streatham blaze. While structural damage in the Walwa fire was limited to about four buildings, he noted that nearly 10,000 hectares of pine plantations had been burned.
Victoria Police Commissioner Mike Bush clarified that three adults earlier believed to include a child were safe and had been located in Benalla, attributing the earlier concern to confusion over identities.
A state of disaster was declared early Saturday in 18 fire-affected local government areas and at Lake Mountain Alpine Resort due to the serious threat to life and property. A total fire ban was also imposed across the entire state for the day.
The state control centre confirmed that 67 fires were burning across Victoria on Saturday afternoon, including 10 that remained out of control.
In a statement, the premier said the disaster declaration was intended to send a strong message to residents who had been advised to leave, urging them to do so if possible. She said the declaration gave authorities expanded powers to respond to an emergency of exceptional scale and danger.
Although a cool change moved through parts of the state on Friday night, the premier warned that Saturday would still be extremely challenging due to shifting winds affecting active fires. While heatwave conditions eased and temperatures dropped into the 20s across much of Victoria, some areas had recorded temperatures above 45°C the previous day, the Guardian reported.
Fire danger ratings were downgraded on Saturday, with no districts classified as catastrophic or extreme. However, officials remained concerned about strong wind gusts, particularly in alpine regions northeast of Melbourne, and ongoing heat in the state’s northwest.
Fire authorities identified three major blazes on Saturday morning: the Longwood fire advancing east toward Alexandra, an out-of-control grassfire at Ravenswood north of Castlemaine that had crossed the Calder Highway, and an active bushfire west of Walwa moving southeast.
By Saturday afternoon, attention had also turned to two new fires in the Great Otway region, including one along the Great Ocean Road and another at Carlisle River.
Residents in Cape Otway and Maits Rest were urged to evacuate immediately via the Great Ocean Road toward Apollo Bay, while several townships in and around Carlisle River were instructed to either take shelter or leave the area.
Country Fire Authority chief Jason Heffernan told ABC News that conditions on the ground remained highly fluid.
More than 300,000 hectares had already burned and around 38,000 homes and businesses were still without electricity.
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns said over 90 firefighters from his state had been deployed to assist Victoria, with further requests made for additional strike teams, aircraft and support resources. Wiebusch added that personnel from South Australia’s Country Fire Service had also been deployed and that national and international assistance had been sought to support firefighting efforts in the coming weeks.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese commended rural and volunteer firefighters, police and emergency personnel for their preparedness and response after visiting the National Situation Room in Canberra on Saturday morning.