Victoria’s bushfires have now burnt across 404,000 hectares, or a total area more than five times the size of Singapore.
That figure, provided by the State Control Centre on Tuesday night, is equivalent to about 4,040 square kilometres. To put it into perspective, the island country of Singapore measures 710 square kilometres.
Communities around Victoria are continuing to count the cost of the devastating bushfires, with more than 500 structures — including 179 homes — lost or damaged in the January fires so far.
Don Deelen lost his home to the Longwood bushfire. (ABC News: Jessica Longbottom)
Last night, a State Control Centre spokesperson said the largest of the fires still burning was in Longwood, in the state’s north, where the blaze has spread across 137,000 hectares and led to the death of cattle farmer Max Hobson.
Just under a dozen Watch and Act alerts remain current across Victoria, including for the Longwood fire.
The spokesperson said three escorted envoys carrying fodder for livestock were allowed into the area throughout Tuesday.
In Ravenswood, fire has burnt 4,100 hectares, with some residents able to briefly return to their properties between 5pm and 10pm last night.
Forest Fire Management crews make the roads safer near Walwa. (Supplied: Forest Fire Management)
The state’s second largest fire is in Walwa, in north-east Victoria, and has so far spread across more than 102,000 hectares.
About 10,000ha of pine plantation has been destroyed.
The softwood supplies timber mills in Victoria and New South Wales.
Chief executive of the industry body, Softwoods Working Group, Carlie Porteous told ABC Local Radio full assessments were still to be done to determine the impact.
“We understand there are significant impacts,” she said.
Regional train services on the Bendigo and Swan Hill lines have resumed, following damage to a rail bridge and 5 kilometres of the rail line from the Ravenswood fire near Harcourt.
VicEmergency has also issued a statewide warning over air quality, with “extremely poor air quality” in the North East forecast district, as of Tuesday night.
Residents in Harcourt have also been advised that tap water is not safe to drink.