Town destroyed, three missing in horror Victoria bushfires

About 70,000 homes and businesses are without power as dozens of emergency level bushfires burn out of control across Victoria.

Catastrophic fire conditions and 90km/h winds continue to fuel fast-moving fires as hundreds of firefighters battle blazes in searing heat across the state.

Three people are missing, properties have been destroyed and a firefighter was hospitalised in some of the state’s worst bushfires.

More communities at risk from Longwood fire

A fast-moving grassfire burning near Longwood is expected to impact more communities as the blaze spreads through surrounding areas.

The Country Fire Authority warned the fire was headed southeast and communities in Merton, Devils Rider, Eildon, Alexandra and surrounds could be hit by the fire front and ember attack until 11pm on Friday.

“If you are not under an Emergency Warning - Take Shelter Now, you must activate your bushfire survival plan and leave immediately ahead of predicted worsening conditions,” a spokesman warned.

“Leaving early is always the safest option to protect your life. Check warnings regularly as the situation changes.”

Firefighter rushed to hospital with third degree burns

A firefighter has been rushed to hospital suffering third degree burns to their hand battling a blaze at Ruffy.

Country Fire Association chief officer Jason Heffernan said the firefighter was treated at the scene then transported to a Melbourne hospital.

“Obviously it just goes to show the dangers that our firefighters are experiencing on the fire ground,” he said.

“As chief I always get upset when one of my own gets hurt and we obviously wish a speedy recovery for this individual.”

Lightening sparks dozens of fires

Lightning strikes have sparked dozens of new fires across Victoria, compounding catastrophic and extreme fire conditions.

Several emergency warnings are in place as strong winds drive fast-moving blazes, with conditions expected to shift later on Friday.

The Bureau of Meteorology has warned around 40 fires are burning statewide, including two deemed extremely dangerous.

“A cooler and gusty west to south-westerly change is forecast to develop over the southwest in the early afternoon then extend eastwards during the afternoon and evening,” the bureau has warned.

Properties have been destroyed as more than 700 firefighters battle blazes across the state.

“They face a very, very challenging situation,” a spokesman said.

United Airlines flight to US cancelled

Melbourne Airport has confirmed a United Airlines flight to San Francisco was cancelled on Friday due to extreme heat.

An airport spokesperson said the high temperatures affected aircraft performance, forcing the flight to be called off because of weight concerns.

Strong winds in Melbourne also reduced the airport to a single runway, causing delays to some arrivals and departures.

Erratic fire behaviour

Meteorologist Sarah Scully said temperatures across Victoria had risen past 40C and damaging wind gusts about 90km/h were making it difficult to control or contain fires.“It’s a very hot day that’s contributing to these fire dangers, with maximum temperatures in the low to mid 40s.”

Ms Scully damaging wind gusts with severe storms could create “really erratic fire behaviour.”

She said heatwave conditions, increased fuel load, dry lightening and wind change were all contributing to the dangerous fire conditions.

“Wind changes are notoriously difficult to fight fires in and create really erratic fire behaviour, but we have those damaging wind gusts as well.”

Wildlife shelter destroyed in Longwood fire

An animal shelter was completely gutted by flames in Victoria’s Longwood fire, with the owner forced to take shelter in a dam with six joeys.

Dr Robyn Coy who runs the Tarcombe Animal Shelter, about 140km north of Melbourne, spent years rescuing and rehabilitating wildlife has now lost everything.

A fundraiser has been set up for Dr Coy who was lucky to survive the fire.

Animal Justice Party MP Georgie Purcell said Dr Coy cared for all types of animals including koalas, kangaroos and wallabies.

“Yesterday, Tarcombe Wildlife Shelter was completely destroyed in the Longwood bushfire,” she said.

“Everything has been lost – including animals, property, homes and personal belongings.

“Dr Robyn Coy who runs the shelter luckily escaped to safety, along with six joeys.

“Donations are vital to help rebuild this incredible sanctuary.”

Three missing after home destroyed by fire

Three people last seen in front of a now-destroyed home remain unaccounted for as a town at the centre of an “uncontrollable” bushfire is ripped apart by flames.

Some communities impacted by a fire at Longwood – about 150km north of Melbourne – have been told that it is too late to leave as the fire shows no signs of easing.

Police are now searching for a man, woman and child at Longwood East, who were advised by Country Fire Authorities (CFA) on Thursday that they needed to take shelter as it was too late for them to leave safely.

“Later the that afternoon, those same fire service representatives reattended that area to see the house that they saw those three people standing in front of had been completely destroyed,” Victoria Police deputy commissioner Bob Hill said.

“Those three people remain unaccounted for. Those three people, we do not know at this point of time where they may be.

“That particular area in Longwood East where that house has been destroyed is still a hot spot, and we’re yet to be able to put the strike teams from the fire service into that area to conduct an assessment for us.”

Government assistance provided

The federal and Victorian governments have announced snap emergency relief to support households affected.

The assistance includes a one-off payment of $680 per adult and $340 per child to help cover the costs of essentials.

“My thoughts are with those who have been affected by these devastating bushfires,” Federal Emergency Management Minister Kristy McBain said in a statement.

“This is a crucial time for Victorians to be listening to the advice of emergency services, regularly checking for updates online or through media, and being ready to enact their emergency plans.

“The Albanese government understands the need to act urgently, which is why we have activated this assistance immediately.”

‘Bomb gone off’: Town destroyed

The Longwood fire shows no signs of easing as temperatures and winds ramp up.

Emergency management commissioner Tim Wiebusch said residents’ failure to evacuate from impacted areas “could result in your life being lost”.

The nearby town of Ruffy was hit by the firefront on Friday morning, with residential and community properties lost to the flames.

“We know that we have had the community centre and the telephone exchange damaged or lost at the township of Ruffy,” Commissioner Wiebusch said.

“In and around the Ruffy township, there are multiple homes that have been lost to fire.”

Images from the fire have revealed how entire buildings were engulfed in flames.

The Ruffy Recreation Centre, previously a primary school, became a fireball on Friday.

Another photo reveals the aftermath on the town’s community centre, which is now just a pile of smoking rubble.

While an official count of the buildings is not yet available due to ongoing danger, Felicity Sloman, Ruffy CFA community safety officer said on Friday that at least 20 had been destroyed.

“We know everybody is thinking about us and we’re really keen for people to just stay put until it’s safe to come up, and then we’re going to need a lot of help,” she told ABC News

“We don’t know how many properties we’ve lost because communications are down, but it’s minimum 20 I would say.

The town has been “impacted severely” by the fire according to CFA captain for the town George Noye.

“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.”

Authorities have warned conditions in the area would be “catastrophic” on Friday, with reports the state is facing its worst fire threat since the Black Summer fires in 2019 and 2020.

Firefighters have “no chance” of containing the fire on Friday, according to deputy incident controller of the Longwood fire Greg Murphy, with 400 volunteers and 93 pieces of firefighting equipment fighting a losing battle with the blaze.

The dangerous conditions have also meant that the 70 aircraft in Victoria’s firefighting fleet are not able to fly.

NSW braces for flames as they send help south

Dozens of firefighters from NSW have been sent south to assist Victorian crews, with more to arrive over the weekend.

There were 92 personnel from the Rural Fire Service in NSW sent late Thursday to the Longwood fire.

They have been assisting in that firefighting effort since the early hours of Friday morning.

“We’ve also requested an additional 117 interstate personnel that will arrive on Saturday to be available for Sunday, and that is a mix of incident management team personnel along with additional firefighters into the landscape,” Mr Wiebusch said.

Under current conditions, the fire burning near Walwa is not expected to cross into NSW, but crews in the state are preparing in case. The Walwa fire is expected to burn in a southerly direction, with hopes the Murray River – which makes up much of the border between states – will help contain the fire to Victoria.

However, there are always concerns that high winds could push embers into NSW.

Dozens of fires are already burning in NSW on Friday, however they all remain under the advice level.

With heatwave conditions to move north on Saturday, extreme fire danger is forecast in the Greater Sydney, Illawarra/Shoalhaven, Southern Ranges, Southern Slopes and Monaro Alpine regions on the weekend.

“Those high temperatures for eastern NSW and the winds will elevate the fire dangers, reaching extreme, including across the Sydney metro [area],” weather bureau meteorologist Sarah Scully said.

A total fire ban has been declared in four southern NSW and Riverina regions on the Victorian border.

Third emergency level blaze announced

Victoria is now facing its third emergency level fire with a grassfire impacting communities near Natimuk.

Residents at Natimuk, Arapiles and Grass Flat are urged to leave now and head to Horsham where an emergency centre has opened at Horsham Senior Citizens Centre on Roberts Ave.

The fire is not under control and a wind change is expected within the next hour that will make the fire move toward Natimuk.

“Natimuk and surrounding areas could be impacted anytime up to 2.30pm,” the warning reads.

“Leaving immediately is the safest option, before conditions become too dangerous.”

The following roads are closed:

• Wimmera Highway between Nhill-Harrow Road and the Horsham Noradjuha Road
• Natimuk Frances Road is closed at Gymbowen, with traffic diverted to Nhill.

Emergency warnings impact thousands of residents

For the Longwood fire, ‘take shelter’ warnings are in place for: Ancona, Fawcett, Gooram, Merton, Strathbogie, Strathbogie South, Woodfield, Alexandra, Devils River, Fawcett, Lake Eildon, Maintongoon, Caveat, Creightons Creek, Dropmore, Gobur, Gooram, Highlands, Kanumbra, Kelvin View, Locksley, Longwood, Longwood East, Ruffy, Strathbogie, Tarcombe, Terip Terip, and Upton Hill.

“You are in danger and need to act immediately to survive,” the warning reads.

“The safest option is to take shelter indoors immediately. It is too late to leave.”

People south and west of the fire have been told to leave immediately if they have not already done so.

Residents in the following towns have been told to flee: Cathkin, Caveat, Ghin Ghin, Highlands, Kanumbra, Killingworth, Koriella, Limestone, Molesworth, Whanregarwen, Yarck.

“Leaving immediately is the safest option, before conditions become too dangerous,” the warning reads.

“Emergency services may not be able to help you if you decide to stay.”

Emergency relief centres are open at the Seymour Sports and Aquatics Centre, the Mansfield Youth Centre and Benalla Town Hall.

The following roads are closed:

• Maroondah Highway between Yea and Maindample
• Maroondah Highway and Devon Road
• Merton Euroa Road closed through to the Hume Freeway
• McMenaman Rd and Maroondah Highway
• Kobyboyn Road and Highlands Road
• Ghin Ghin Road and Goulburn Valley Highway
• Fathfull Road at Hume Freeway
• Goulburn Valley Highway and Whatton Place
• Tarcombe Road at Hume Freeway

Second blaze west of Walwa

Another blaze is burning across 20,000ha in the Mt Lawson State Park, near Wodonga on the Victoria-NSW border, with residents being told to leave immediately before conditions become too dangerous.

Residents in the following towns have been told to leave: Bungil, Walwa, Cudgewa, Koetong, Colac Colac, Nariel Valley and surrounds.

“That fire will continue to grow, and communities in that area need to keep a very close eye on that fire,” Forest Fire Management chief officer Chris Hardman said.

“ … things can always get worse, so if you’re surrounding those areas, you’re not necessarily out of danger.”

The out-of-control blaze is burning in a south-south-easterly direction, with residents urged to go to relief centres at the Upper Murray Event Centre at the Corryong Football Oval and Tallangatta Memorial Hall.

Residents in Koetong or Shelley should go to Wodonga via the Murray Valley Highway while those east of Berringama should travel toward the same area via Corryong using the Murray River Road river crossings in Tintaldra, Towong, and Brigenbrong.

Drivers have been told not to use the river crossing at Jingellic.

Impacts in the area:

Road closures – local traffic only:

• Murray Valley Highway between Lucyvale Road and Cudgewa Valley Rd.

Road closure – emergency vehicles only:

• Murray Valley Highway between Annandale Road and Lucyvale Road
• Shelley Road
• Murray River Road between Granya Road and the Jingellic Road intersection.

‘Don’t be stupid’: Urgent warning

Authorities are pleading for residents to resist any temptation to stay and try to defend their homes.

Premier Jacinta Allen urged residents to not second-guess official advice or wait for conditions to worsen.

“For those who might be thinking that they can stay and defend in these conditions – don’t,” she warned.

“It’s dangerous, it’s not courageous. It puts your life and also to the lives of the emergency services at risk as well.

“And if you know someone who might be thinking they can stay and fight these fires, please tell them this plainly to not do so, because we have seen in recent history how fires … overwhelm people, equipment and any preparation you thought you may have made, you will not win simply against the fires of these magnitudes.”

Anthony Albanese said on Friday morning he had been receiving briefings from fire authorities and the Bureau of Meteorology.

“This is an opportunity for me to emphasise that people need to listen to the advice, and as it comes through, if you’re asked to leave your property, please do,” the Prime Minister said.

“ … our thoughts are with all those confronting these difficult conditions today and over coming days.”

Conditions to worsen through Friday

Fire conditions are expected to worsen through the day, with the Bureau of Meteorology warning temperatures could reach 47C with damaging winds.

The Bureau and other authorities have warned that Friday’s fires will be unable to be contained.

“These conditions are extremely dangerous, and any fires that develop or are already burning will be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to fight,” senior meteorologist Christie Johnson said.

National Fires Interactive PROD

Catastrophic fire danger warnings are in place across North Central, Northern Country, South West and Wimmera while extreme warnings are in place for Central, East Gippsland, Mallee, North East and West and South Gippsland.

“That includes the outer Melbourne area and that’s been created by the heatwave conditions,” Bureau meteorologist Sarah Scully said.

“We’ve got maximum temperatures across the Melbourne suburbs of 43C to 45C, but widespread 45C to high 40s across both Victoria and southeastern parts of South Australia.”

There are also fears Thursday’s fire-generated thunderstorms could be repeated on Friday, with lightning bands potentially starting further blazes.

“There’s a severe thunderstorm risk with damaging wind gusts that can cause erratic fire behaviour as those gusts hit the ground and make the wind direction very difficult to predict,” Ms Scully said.

“So with these elevated fire dangers, we have seen now a number of days of extreme heat, or heatwave conditions, that have dried the landscape considerably as well that dry lightning from those elevated thunderstorms could ignite new fires.

“If they get going, those fires are going to spread quickly and be difficult to control.”

ACT brings in fire ban for first time in six years

With temperatures topping 40C in parts of the ACT, a total fire ban has been declared for the first time since January 2020.

The ban will come in from midnight and will be in place for 24 hours over Saturday, when winds of 60km/h will combine with the heatwave.

“For us, it’s usually the winds that are the tipping factor,” ACT Rural Fire Service chief officer Rohan Scott said.

The weather conditions have sparked “elevated fire danger, meaning any fires that occur are likely to spread rapidly and be harder for firefighters to control”.

The fire ban is not expected to affect the nation’s largest car festival Summernats, which started on Thursday and will continue over the weekend.

Crowds of 130,000 are expected at the four day festival of cars, burnout competition and live music.

Loved ones fear for locals 

Community social media pages have been flooded with requests for updates from loved ones as residents caught up in the fire fail to reach out.

One post shared revealed how a farmer who had decided to stay at his property was unable to be contacted.

“He is 84 now. He is on the farm on his own protecting our property and we cannot communicate with him. No working mobile and no way to get to him,” his family wrote.

“His wife and family would appreciate hearing he is safe. I’m sure he is as he is old school farmer tough but it’s not nice waiting to hear.

Requests for information about pets who have gone missing in the chaos, including dogs, horses and bulls, have also been spotted.

Others have offered up their homes and services to those affected by the fires.

“Please tell us what we can do. What do you need right now? We will try to get to you what ever is required. Don’t hesitate,” one person, who noted she was new to the area, wrote.

Good Samaritans have also opened up their paddocks to people wishing to drop off horses and other livestock.

“With the fires impacting our region, we want to put it out there that we’re here to help anyone needing horses or livestock moved away from danger,” one person wrote.

“We can assist with tow vehicles and relocation where possible.”