Victoria bushfires live updates: Premier declares State of disaster as multiple bushfires continue to burn

Reporting LIVE

Take shelter now warning issued for Carlisle River

An emergency warning has been issued for Carlisle River telling people to take shelter now from an out-of-control bushfire.

The bushfire started on Trotters Track west of Carlisle River and is travelling from Trotters Lane, Carlisle River in a north-easterly direction towards Carlisle River and Escarpment Rd.

“This fire is threatening homes and lives,” VicEmergency said.

The blaze is not far from another out-of-control bushfire in Capte Otway.

Evacuation warning for bushfire in Cape Otway, part of Great Ocean Rd closed

A Leave Immediatly warning has been issued for Cape Otway and Maits Rest due to an out-of-control bushfire.

The bushfire started near the Great Ocean Rd in Cape Otway and is travelling from Sandy Ridge Track in a south-easterly direction.

The Great Ocean Rd could be impacted anytime within the next hour, according to VicEmergency.

A section of the road will close between Lavers Hill and Apollo Bay as well as the Maits Rest Visitor Area.

Maroondah Hwy closed

The Maroondah Hwy is now closed north of Healesville at McKenzie Ave for at least the weekend.

A relief centre is open at the Lilydale High School Basketball Stadium for anyone in the area displaced by the fires.

Several community meetings to be held

There will be several community meetings in fire affected areas today.

The meetings will be held in the following locations:

Streatham Memorial Hall at 2pm

Castlemaine Town Hall at 3pm

Kyneton Town Hall at 5pm

Horsham Heritage Town Hall at 2.30pm

Katamatite Recreation Reserve at 4pm

Skipton Mechanics Hall at 4pm

Every meeting except for the one at Skipton will be livestreamed by VicEmergency via Facebook.

Fires to be investigated, causes remain unclear

Emergency Management Commissioner Tim Wiebusch could not confirm if any of the fires had been deliberately lit.

He said the causes of some of the fires were unclear but that a lot of them had been ignited by lightning.

“We’ve got a number of large fires in our landscape. Each one of them will be investigated at various points in time, and we will come back to you at some point as we learn and understand how those fires might have started,” Wiebusch said.

CFA chief officer provides updates on injured firefighters

CFA chief officer Jason Heffernan provided an update on the three firefighters, including two CFA members and one fire fighter from NSW, who have been hospitalised.

“We last spoke of the gentleman who severely injured his hand and was brought to Melbourne ... yesterday at the press conference. In addition to that, we had another CFA member at the fire who was hit in the face by a hose.

“(He was) originally transported to Horsham Hospital, he was assessed and later transferred to Melbourne for further medical (treatment).”

The third firefighter from NSW was taken to hospital after experiencing a medical episode due to a pre-existing conditon.

He was airlifted to Melbourne as a precaution, Heffernan said.

“I’d like to report that all three firefighters are doing just fine. Over the last 24 hours, we’ve had senior officers visit, speak and spend time with these people,” he said.

“They are in great spirits and I know on behalf of all Victorians, you’ll be passing your thanks and gratitude for each of them.”

People ignoring instructions at road checks and road blocks

Victoria Police Commissioner Mike Bush said police have been receiving reports people are ignoring instructions at the road checks and the roadblocks.

“I implore you to follow the instructions of emergency services personnel who are out there,” he said.

“The reason they give these instructions is very much for your own safety.”

Over 100 structures lost due to multiple bushfires

Emergency Management Commissioner Tim Wiebusch has provided an update on the number of properties and structures that have been lost so far.

Ravenswood and Harcourt fire:

This fire has seen the most significant number of properties and structures lost, Wiebusch said.

A total of 50 structures have been burnt and that number is expected to grow.

There has also been damage to critical infrastructure including the Bendigo Railway line.

It is now closed and buses are replacing trains.

Longwood fire:

A total of 30 structures has been lost.

Livestock, cropping land and vineyards have also been significantly impacted or destroyed.

Yarrowee fire on the Murray Valley Highway:

Ten structures lost.

Grass Flat or Natimbuk fire:

Twenty structures lost.

Walwa fire:

There has been a significant loss of pine plantations with around 10,000 hectares burnt.

The number of structures lost has been minimal.

Families impacted by fires eligible for one-off payment of $2,380

Minister for Emergency Management Kristy McBain announced the payment.

Personal hardship payments available for all fire affected communities

“These will be made available to people through the VicEmergency hotline, through relief centres, and they are payments for immediate immediate clothes, for food, for medication,” Allan said.

“This will not be the end of the assistance for those fire affected communities as those impact assessments are undertaken.”