Firefighters are continuing to battle multiple out-of-control bushfires in Victoria after volatile winds and lower temperatures set in across the state on Saturday.
Devastated communities on Saturday gathered at emergency centres in the aftermath of fires that earlier destroyed homes and swept through the towns of Harcourt, in central Victoria, and Natimuk, in the state’s west.
There are three emergency-level fires burning across the state — the Longwood fire in central Victoria, the Carlisle River fire in the Otways and the Walwa fire in north-east Victoria.
The Carlisle River fire burnt throughout Saturday. (Supplied: DEECA)
On Saturday evening, authorities said the Longwood fire in central Victoria and fires in the Otways in the state’s south-west were of greatest concern to firefighters.
The Longwood blaze has already burned through 144,000 hectares of land in central Victoria, with the north-eastern edge of the fire on Saturday evening moving towards Euroa.
In the Otways, the out-of-control fire at Carlisle River moved north-east toward the border town of Colac and threatened the town of Gellibrand on Saturday afternoon, with winds proving extremely difficult for firefighters.
Fires in the Otways were burning quickly by Saturday morning. (Supplied: Wye River CFA)
The fire had burnt through about 1,700 hectares by Saturday evening.
State Control Centre spokeswoman Reegan Key urged people in the area to monitor warnings.
“Those fires are moving in the forest in that area and so we’d really like people to stay across what’s happening if they’re down along the Great Ocean Road or in that area,” she said.
Authorities said a number of homes in communities surrounding the fire would be under threat.
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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Saturday afternoon said the Australian Defence Force would assist with the emergency response. Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan earlier declared a state of disaster after more than 60 fires ignited across the state on Friday.
At least 130 structures had been destroyed by bushfires across Victoria by Saturday morning at a conservative estimate, authorities said, with that figure expected to rise following aerial assessments.
A third consecutive day of total fire ban has been declared for the entire state of Victoria on Sunday.
A total fire ban has been declared for Sunday. (Supplied: CFA)
‘Reality is hitting home’
On Saturday, residents in Natimuk in the state’s west were left to sift through the devastation of a fire that ripped through the town on Friday.
Fire ripped through multiple homes in Natimuk. (ABC News: Daniel Taylor)
About 20 structures are estimated to have been destroyed in the town that sits about 30 kilometres west of the regional hub of Horsham.
A home destroyed by fire in Natimuk. (ABC News: Daniel Taylor)
Authorities on Saturday addressed Natimuk residents at a community meeting in Horsham, telling the crowd the conditions on Friday were so “atrocious” it made it “almost impossible to evacuate”.
A community meeting was held in Horsham Town Hall on Saturday following the Natimuk fire. (ABC News: Daniel Taylor)
Horsham Mayor Brian Klowss on Saturday said it had been incredibly difficult for the community.
“Reality is hitting home. Here in Natimuk, at this meeting now, there’s been quite a few tears,” he said.
“I’ve had my own session this morning.
“Emotions are running very high.”
Natimuk farmer Dylan Rethus attending to a roadside fire on Saturday. (ABC News: Angus Verley)
Residents at the south-eastern edge of the Longwood fire, in towns like Yea, Alexandra and Buxton, remained on high alert across Saturday, with many evacuating their homes.
On Saturday afternoon, CFA volunteer Shona Guest said she was preparing to rejoin her brigade on their tanker to battle the Longwood fire.
“Best case scenario, it doesn’t get any windier, and it doesn’t change direction and allows us just to continue blacking out,” she said.
“Worst case scenario is the wind will change, blow it into unburnt territory, and we start all over again.”
Longwood local Shona Guest will rejoin her brigade on Sunday after multiple days fighting fires. (ABC News: Nicole Asher)
The Ravenswood fire destroyed multiple homes in the town of Harcourt on Friday, with residents still waiting for the all-clear to return home following safety assessments in the town.
In the state’s north-east, evacuation warnings for the Walwa fire cover a large area to the south and south-east of the blaze that has burnt through 94,000 hectares.
A wind change on Saturday afternoon pushed the fire towards the Tallangatta Valley.
For more information on the latest fire warnings for Victoria, visit the VicEmergency website.