Victoria’s emergency services are confronting devastating bushfire conditions as extreme heatwave temperatures sweep across Australia’s southeastern states. Firefighters continue their relentless battle against a major blaze near Longwood in northern Victoria that has already consumed approximately 36,000 hectares of land.
The Country Fire Authority (CFA) has issued grave warnings to residents as Friday’s temperatures are projected to reach 42°C, creating what officials describe as ‘catastrophic’ fire conditions throughout the state. CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan delivered a sobering message to Victorians: ‘Victorians should brace themselves for more property loss or worse.’
The small community of Ruffy has suffered severe devastation, with at least ten homes destroyed and local infrastructure including a school completely lost. Ruffy CFA Captain George Noye described the scene as resembling a bomb detonation, noting that numerous properties had lost everything – including livelihoods, shearing sheds, and livestock.
In a concerning development, Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Bob Hill reported three individuals – two adults and one child – remain unaccounted for in the Longwood area. Authorities had previously contacted them at their property, advising shelter as evacuation was no longer feasible. Subsequent checks revealed their home had been destroyed by fire with no sign of the residents.
Simultaneously, another significant fire near Walwa in northeast Victoria has burned through over 17,000 hectares. Heffernan emphasized that the threat extends beyond active fire zones, warning that numerous new fires have ignited across communities with more expected throughout the day.
Neighboring South Australia faces similar challenges, with temperatures predicted to reach 46°C in some regions and fire crews already combating multiple blazes. The extreme conditions have prompted total fire bans across Victoria, with all regions receiving either ‘catastrophic’ or ‘extreme’ fire danger ratings.