Fire danger ‘not over’ despite easing weather as 12 blazes burn and interstate crews bolster exhausted Victorian teams

Impact assessment teams on Monday afternoon confirmed that more than 350 structures had been destroyed statewide - a number that is expected to rise as crews gain access to isolated areas.

The most severe damage continues to be concentrated in the Longwood region, where 154 structures have been destroyed.

Streatham has also suffered substantial losses, with 18 homes destroyed, alongside extensive agricultural impacts.

In the Ravenswood and Harcourt areas, 47 homes and three businesses have been lost, along with livestock devastation.

One home was destroyed in the Kennedys Creek area of the Otways, and another in the Gippsland region.

Losses have also been recorded at Mt Mercer, where a house and 12 outbuildings were burnt.

Emergency Management Commissioner Tim Wiebusch said detailed assessments would continue as quickly as conditions allow.

During Monday’s briefing, Commissioner Wiebusch acknowledged the death of a man in the Longwood fire zone, saying the loss is being felt, not only by family and friends, but by emergency services and regional communities who have endured days of relentless conditions.

Victoria still has three active emergency warnings, along with 19 Watch and Act alerts, reflecting the scale and unpredictability of the situation.

"Fortunately today the conditions are continuing to be more favourable than they have been in more recent days. But the risk is not over yet," he said.

According to Commissioner Wiebusch, twelve major fires are now burning across Victoria.

Among them are the vast Longwood blaze, which has become the state’s largest active fire footprint.

Significant blazes are also occurring in the Otways, Gippsland Valley, Mount Lawson and through the Snowy Complex near Orbost and Mallacoota.

Agricultural damage has emerged as a significant element of the disaster, with more than 1,000 farms and rural properties likely affected.

Agriculture Victoria has deployed two specialised incident management teams to the state’s east and west to conduct property assessments, with livestock deaths, pasture loss, farm infrastructure damage and power pole destruction increasingly reported.

The Commissioner confirmed that Victoria’s emergency response is being supported by thousands of local firefighters, paramedics, SES volunteers and recovery workers who have been in the field for days.

They are now joined by 380 interstate personnel from across the country.

“We have got Queensland, New South Wales, ACT, South Australia that are here helping our Victorian emergency services as well,” he said.

“So, we just want to give a big shout out to our interstate colleagues for the amazing work they're doing in supporting us at the moment.”

A major focus of the day is reopening roads and restoring access to isolated communities.

Forest Fire Management Victoria has been moving in heavy machinery to begin clearing hazardous trees, debris and damaged infrastructure to allow residents to return home when it is safe.

However, Commissioner Wiebusch emphasised that many regions remain too dangerous for re-entry, and authorities will not permit access until safety is assured.

Earlier coverage

Victoria’s state emergency centre has issued two new emergency warnings for residents in the vicinity of the Walwa fire, in Victoria’s northeast, while another emergency warning has been issued for the Carlisle River fire, on Victoria’s west coast.

Residents of Berringama, Bullioh, Koetong, Lucyvale, Shelley, the Tallangatta Valley and surrounds have been urged to “take shelter now” due to an out-of-control fire 25km west of Walwa.

“If you are in danger, you need to act immediately to survive. The safest option is to stay close to shelter,” the warning states.

Those in the nearby towns of Bungil, Burrowye, Granya and surrounds have been urged to “leave immediately… before conditions become too dangerous”.

A “take shelter now” warning has also been issued for Irrewillipe, in the vicinity of the Carlisle River fire, which is travelling in a north-westerly direction from Pipeline Road.

One person has been killed in the bushfires, with authorities confirming on Sunday that the body of an unidentified person had been found in Gobur, near Longwood.

More than 300 homes have also been destroyed, with about 150 of those being as a result of the Longwood fire.

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said her thoughts and the thoughts of all Victorians were with the individual's family and loved ones.

"This loss will be felt far beyond Gobur, and it marks the first known fire-related fatality during what has already been an incredibly challenging period for our state," Ms Allan said.

“It is another really tragic reminder of just how dangerous and deadly these fires are.”

Premier Allan said that while the full damage of the fires was not yet known, they had already destroyed 350,000 hectares of land across the state.

“There are many, many homes and structures that have been lost. And sadly, we know this is a number that will increase as the impact assessment teams go into areas... (when) it's safe to do so,” she told ABC News Breakfast.

“So, for example, around the Longwood fire area, more than 150 houses and structures have been lost. A good number of those are houses.

“Around the Natimuk and Harcourt communities, there have been many houses lost in those areas as well.

“These are small communities who have lost many homes, which means many families have been impacted.”

Cooler temperatures to bring some relief

Cooler temperatures are expected to bring some relief for parts of Victoria on Monday, although there is still a high fire danger for parts of the state.

“There is moderate fire danger, so much lower fire danger, at least across the southern half of Victoria, as well as across much of New South Wales,” Sky News Weather Meteorologist Marina Neuman said.

“We are still seeing that high fire danger. We are dealing with very strong wind gusts.”

Maximum wind gusts of up to 57km/h are expected in Ballarat and 50 km/h in Mount William.

“But the good news is, much cooler temperatures of course than when we first saw all of this beginning," she said.

Melbourne can expect a top of 24C, while temperatures in Ballarat could reach 27C.

‘Another very difficult day’

Despite the cooler temperatures, Premier Allan said Monday would be “another very difficult day” as 12 active fires continue to burn across Victoria.

“The biggest concern continues to be that we have a number of fires in different parts of the state, in East Gippsland, in the north east and in the south west, and they've been going for a number of days now,” she told ABC News Breakfast.

“But every day presents a risk with heat and wind conditions, and in some parts of the state, the weather conditions have eased, but in the north, it will continue to be a hot day.

“Again, I want to thank the firefighters and emergency services have been going for days, going for days, and there are many more days and weeks ahead, as this fire risk continues to be present in the landscape.”

Government support being provided

Premier Allan said the government was already providing support through Personal Hardship Payments and other measures.

“These payments are for that immediate emergency assistance that is needed, for people who've been told to evacuate or who have lost their homes," she said.

“They’re for really practical things like clothing and food and medication. So those payments are already being made.

“Likewise, too, the significant amount of funding yesterday is being provided for fodder for livestock… that relief and support is also being immediately activated.

“As, too, (are the) the other things, like emergency accommodation and assistance."

The Premier said there was also mental health support available that could be accessed through relief centres and through Vic Emergency.

“This is tough. Many of these communities have already experienced really difficult fires before,” she said.

"There is still a very long road ahead, and for many it will be marked by grief.

“So I do encourage people who are finding it is a tough time and who are needing that support, it will be there.”

“We will stand alongside those families and communities for however long it takes."