Three people reported missing after house destroyed in bushfire have been found safe
Three people who were reported as missing have been found and are safe, the Victorian premier, Jacinta Allan, says.
We are grateful for everyone for supporting those people, to keep them safe.
The premier is also providing an update on the man in his 60s who died near a fire ground after he was found in his vehicle.
While his death is not directly related to the fires, the fact this death occurred in such close proximity to the fire ground means this is a community that is grieving and my thoughts are with his family and the broader community.
Allan, who says her own community has been told to evacuate, thanks those who have followed advice by emergency authorities saying that, as emergency warnings are issued, “communities did respond”.
I know how hard it is to leave your home, not knowing when or what you will return to. It has saved lives. Again, I thank Victorians for following that advice.
Updated at 19.02 EST
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New South Wales Rural Fire Service are watching for new ignitions ahead of a change expected this afternoon, Ben Millington, deputy commissioner at the Rural Fire Service.
Millington, speaking to the ABC on Saturday afternoon, warned that “it will be difficult to control and contain” if a fire takes hold this afternoon when temperatures are expected to increase.
So we are asking the community to remain vigilant, heed warnings from the emergency services and we’ve certainly got a number of hours ahead of us before we see that change come through later tonight.
He said there are 46 bush and grassfires burning across New South Wales at present, six of which are not contained.
Total fire banes remain in place from the Hunter region, down through Sydney into the Illawarra, Shoalhaven, far south coast and over the ranges to the Central Ranges and Southern Slopes, Monaro and Alpine.
We don’t want people to be introducing new fires so be careful of those wooden barbecues. Any of those welding works that people are undertaking. We just don’t need those sort of things, starting new fires under these conditions.
Dougal says evacuation centre staff are doing their best to support the community and meet their needs as they arrive – including one resident who turned up with a dingo.
We are solving lots and lots of problems as people come in. They’re not the sort of problems that you necessarily plan for, but we have managed to find solutions and just earlier today we had a person turn up with a dingo and we managed to find out how do we how do we locate this and how do we separate that from the other pets that have been brought in. But all sorts of challenges are emerging, but we’ve been able to find solutions at this stage.
The mood among residents of Mitchell shire remains tense as “the threat remains real”, the mayor, John Dougall, says.
Speaking to the ABC, Dougall is overseeing the support effort at the Seymour Evacuation Centre and says those who have had to evacuate have found a sense of “calm” at the centre – but everyone remains hungry for information.
That is the key question on people’s lips, isn’t it? You know, is my house still standing? Can I access my property? I believe that the police were about to hold a meeting with all of the community that are here at the Seymour Sports and Aquatic Centre, which is the emergency relief centre in Seymour.
Dougall said a community meeting would be held at 5pm, Saturday night with residents of Mitchell, Strathbogie and Murrindindi welcome.
This is a community that is pretty resilient. You know, we have faced disasters in the past, the floods in 2022 and of course, in 2024. This is now 2026 and we’re facing a fire. So we understand not just the immediate scenario, the relief that is required in, you know, during the event, but also as we move into that recovery phase.
Updated at 20.05 EST
What we learned from the Victorian bushfires update
The press conference has wrapped, so just a quick summary of the key details of what was reported:
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The three people missing after their house burnt down in the Longwood fire have been found and confirmed safe.
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There are 20 fires burning across the state, 10 of them at a major fire level.
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More than 800,000 hectares of land in Victoria is now under an emergency warning.
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There are 19 active emergency warnings, with 16 watch and act notices, and several advisories.
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The premier, Jacinta Allan’s own community is one of those that were told to leave over concerns about an approaching fire front.
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The Bendigo railway line has been affected by fires, with a temporary bus service to replace trains.
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State emergency services have called for assistance from interstate and overseas over the next month.
Updated at 20.01 EST
Three firefighters treated for injuries across Victoria
Three firefighters have sustained injuries while on the fire ground across Victoria, the Country Fire Authority chief officer, Jason Heffernan, says.
Yesterday, authorities shared details about a firefighter who injured his hand. Heffernan says he has been treated at Royal Melbourne hospital.
Another CFA firefighter was hit in the face by a hose and has been transported to Horsham hospital, where he was assessed and has since been transferred to Melbourne for further treatment.
An interstate firefighter with a pre-existing condition experienced a “medical episode” that required evacuation by airlift to Melbourne as a precaution.
All three firefighters are “doing just fine”, Heffernan says.
They are in great spirit and I know on behalf of all Victorians you’ll be passing your thanks and dedication and gratitude for each of them and the sacrifices that they have made for you all.
Heffernan also thanked communities who hosted CFA crews overnight, particularly around the Longwood fire.
I just want to thank the communities, the publicans, the shopkeepers and the Airbnb providers that opened up their doors, provided free meals, free accommodation and all wellbeing and support for these firefighters.
Updated at 19.51 EST
The Victorian police commissioner, Mike Bush, has asked residents to respect instructions at roadblocks.
Please, I implore you to follow the instructions of emergency services personnel who are out there. The reason they give these instructions is very much for your own safety.
He says that the man in his 60s who was found dead in his vehicle is not considered to be related to the fire, but the cause of death will be investigated by the coroner.
Updated at 19.46 EST
Wiebusch says there have been “significant losses” as a result of the fires.
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At the Ravenswood and Harcourt fire, there have been approximately 50 structures lost – although this is a conservative early estimate with expectations that it will grow.
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The Bendigo railway line has been affected and is closed, with a temporary bus service to replace trains.
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At the Longwood fire, 30 structures have been lost with impact assessments still occurring in the area.
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Livestock, vineyards and cropping land have been lost at the Natimuk fire in Victoria’s west, with 20 structures lost and significant impacts on livestock.
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At the Yarrowee fire in Victoria’s north on the Murray Valley Highway, 10 structures have been lost to fire along with damage to agricultural land.
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At the Streatham fire, five structures have been confirmed lost.
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There have been small structural losses at the Walwa fire, but 10,000 hectares, including pine plantations, have been lost.
Victoria’s firefighting effort has been aided by 160 personnel from interstate with another 32 arriving from other parts of Australia.
Wiebusch says he put out a request for extra resources from other states, but also internationally, to support the state “over the next month”, but more information will be provided “in the coming days”.
Bushfire in Gobur, on the outskirts of the Longwood fire. Photograph: Taggerty Fire BrigadeShare
Updated at 19.44 EST
More fires expected in Victoria after lightning overnight
More fires are expected in Victoria today as the result of lightning overnight, the emergency management commissioner, Tim Wiebusch, says.
Victoria has experienced 200 fires, he says, with 11 growing into major fires, and while this has eased, “many of those major fires will continue to burn for days, if not weeks”.
Those looking to return to their properties are advised to check current warnings.
If you are no longer in the warning footprint, it is safe for you to return to those areas, but you need to remain alert because we still have those 10 major fires in the landscape.
But Wiebusch asks that people stay away from the “fire footprints” until they are declared safe to return, out of concern for roads in and out of communities becoming jammed.
The areas currently covered by the state of disaster are:
Updated at 19.19 EST
Personal hardship payments available for fire-affected communities, premier says
Personal hardship payments will be made available to those in fire-affected communities, with further information to be made available through the VicEmergency hotline, the premier, Jacinta Allan, says.
These payments provide funds to buy clothes, food and medication in emergency situations.
This will not be the end of the assistance for those fire-affected communities as those impact assessments are undertaken – we know there is a long recovery journey ahead.
To those wondering about whether they can return, the premier says work is being done on that at the moment, but strong winds make the situation “difficult and dangerous” and the situation is “unpredictable and can change very, very quickly”.
What can look safe one moment can be a very dangerous, difficult situation the next. So please continue to stay informed. Follow the advice, support our emergency services, and take care of family and loved ones.
Updated at 19.31 EST
Three people reported missing after house destroyed in bushfire have been found safe
Three people who were reported as missing have been found and are safe, the Victorian premier, Jacinta Allan, says.
We are grateful for everyone for supporting those people, to keep them safe.
The premier is also providing an update on the man in his 60s who died near a fire ground after he was found in his vehicle.
While his death is not directly related to the fires, the fact this death occurred in such close proximity to the fire ground means this is a community that is grieving and my thoughts are with his family and the broader community.
Allan, who says her own community has been told to evacuate, thanks those who have followed advice by emergency authorities saying that, as emergency warnings are issued, “communities did respond”.
I know how hard it is to leave your home, not knowing when or what you will return to. It has saved lives. Again, I thank Victorians for following that advice.
Updated at 19.02 EST
Ten major fire fronts continue to burn across Victoria, with 20 smaller fires
Ten major fire fronts continue to burn across Victoria, with another 20 smaller fires that require monitoring.
The Victorian premier, Jacinta Allan, and state emergency authorities are giving an update on conditions in Victoria.
Allan says there are 19 current emergency warnings in place and a further 16 watch and act notifications, particularly around Walwa, Longwood, Wonnangatta and Ravenswood.
It is thought more than 300,000 hectares of land has been burnt and 38,000 households and businesses are now without power as a result of the fire.
As fires are brought under control, impact assessments will begin to take place and that information will be released, Allan says.
The Walwa bushfire on Friday. Photograph: DEECA Hume region Facebook pageShare
Updated at 19.14 EST
Tory Shepherd
Man’s death not directly related to Ravenswood South fire, police say
Some more on the reports that a man was found dead – police have confirmed that a man has been found dead in his car near the Ravenswood South bushfire, but believe the death was not directly related to the fire.
Victoria police said in a statement that emergency services found him in his car, in his paddock, at about 4.45pm on Friday night. Detectives are investigating the death of the man, believed to be in his 60s, and police will prepare a report for the coroner. According to the statement:
At this early stage, the circumstances surrounding the man’s death are unknown however the death is not believed to be directly related to the nearby fire.
Local detectives, who weren’t able to attend the scene immediately due to the nearby fires, attended the scene Friday evening once the immediate area was deemed safe.
The property the vehicle was found in was not impacted by fire.
Updated at 19.33 EST
Eelemarni Close-Brown
Western Sydney readies for the heat
On extreme heat days, western Sydney is usually several degrees hotter than the city centre.
Libraries, community centres, cinemas and swimming pools offer much needed cool spaces for residents and tourists to escape the heat.
In Parramatta, the PHIVE is one such place.
Winnie Laio, a psychology student, says she does have air-conditioning at home, but it struggles in the heat, so she is spending the day at the hub.
If it gets really hot and sweaty at home then I’ve just been taking a cold shower and then putting some cold water on my clothes and then putting them on.
Yunita Ou and her daughter Olivia at PHIVE. Photograph: Blake Sharp-Wiggins/The Guardian
Yunita Ou says she walks to the PHIVE so that her daughter, Olivia, can enjoy the playpen and air-conditioning.
We have the fan and aircon at home but we came up to play since we cannot play at the park, obviously, since it’s too hot for the kids, so we came to the PHIVE.
Updated at 18.30 EST
Sydney prepares to swelter
As the city anticipates the rising mercury, preparations have already begun.
Some local councils, such as Canterbury Bankstown, have extended opening hours for pools and libraries, providing the local community with places to cool down.
Zookeepers at Taronga zoo are making sure animals are able to cool down – with opportunities to swim, and treats “blood-sicles” – ice blocks made with meat, blood and water – for the lions.
The University of Sydney is running a pop-up cooling hub at Belmore Park to help prevent heat-illness during the extreme temperatures.
A fennec fox enjoys icicles at Taronga zoo. Photograph: Taronga Conservation Society AustraliaShare
Updated at 18.49 EST