More than 100 buildings destroyed and 300,000 hectares burned as Victoria's bushfires rage

"Emergency management commissioner, Tim Wiebusch, told the media on Saturday that around 50 homes had been lost in the Ravenswood and Harcourt fire, which was believed to be a conservative number. The Bendigo railway line had also been damaged by fire and was closed. He said around 30 structures had been lost in the Longwood fire, in addition to significant livestock, cropping land and vineyard losses,"

"There had only been around four losses in the Walwa fire however 10,000 hectares of pine plantations had been burned. Conditions we experienced yesterday with fire are unlike what we've seen in 2009 and 2019, Wiebusch said. Yesterday we saw more than 200 grass and scrub fires affect every corner of our state 10 of those fires [are] remaining as major fires. Importantly, many of these major fires will continue to burn for days, if not weeks."

At least 119 structures are believed to be lost across Victoria and more than 300,000 hectares of bushland have burned. Around 50 homes were lost in the Ravenswood and Harcourt fire, about 30 structures in the Longwood fire, 20 in the Natimuk grass fire, 10 in Yarrowee and five in Streatham; Walwa recorded around four losses but 10,000 hectares of pine plantations burned. The Bendigo railway line was damaged and closed. More than 200 grass and scrub fires affected the state, with 10 remaining classed as major; many fires will burn for days or weeks. A state of disaster was declared across 18 local government areas and a total fire ban and numerous emergency warnings were in force, while previously missing people in Longwood were found safe.

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