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<\/p>\nDon Deelen says most people would think he was stupid for staying to defend his property from a bushfire.<\/p>\n
“But you do what you think you have to do,” Mr Deelen said.<\/p>\n
“It’s my house.”<\/p>\n
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Don Deelen says he stayed to defend his property. (ABC News: Jessica Longbottom)<\/p>\n
The 82-year-old cattle farmer from the central Victorian town of Koriella, which was ravaged in the Longwood bushfires, said he was putting out spot fires with a hose when his garage caught alight.<\/p>\n
“I turned around to put it out and the water ran out. That’s when the fire travelled through the house and took it,” he said.<\/p>\n
“I just had to save myself then.”<\/p>\n
Mr Deelen said his wife and children evacuated before the fire reached their home, where they had lived for about 40 years.<\/p>\n
“I must admit I’m a bit stoic \u2026 they were probably sensible,” he said<\/p>\n
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Don Deelan’s home of 40 years was destroyed. (ABC News: Jessica Longbottom)<\/p>\n
He said he had lost about 900 bales of hay, two sheds and the entire contents of their home.<\/p>\n
But “amazingly,” Mr Deelen said he returned to find his cattle had survived the blaze, resting in a blackened and burnt paddock.<\/p>\n
“I wasn’t expecting that.”<\/p>\n
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Despite the fire ravaging his home, Don Deelan’s cattle survived. (ABC News: Jessica Longbottom)<\/p>\n
While he was insured, Mr Deelen said he and his wife did not think they would rebuild.<\/p>\n
“The damage is enormous,” he said.<\/p>\n
More than 150 structures destroyed by Longwood fire<\/p>\n
Mr Deelen’s house is among the numerous structures destroyed by the Longwood fire.<\/p>\n
On Monday night, a State Control Centre spokesperson said it was believed the fire was ignited by a trailer throwing sparks on the Hume Freeway.<\/p>\n
Emergency Management Commissioner Tim Wiebusch said 154 structures had been razed by the Longwood blaze.<\/p>\n
Across the state, the ongoing bushfire disaster had claimed a total of 350 structures, he said.<\/p>\n
Mr Wiebusch said on Monday afternoon there were still 12 major blazes burning, including two in the Otways, the Longwood fire, the Walwa fire in north-east Victoria, and the Harcourt fire near Bendigo.<\/p>\n
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He said more than 1,000 agricultural properties had been impacted, while the Victorian Farmers Federation estimated the livestock loss was more than 15,000.<\/p>\n
A man who died as a result of the Longwood fire has been identified as Max Hobson.<\/a><\/p>\n The cattle farmer’s death is the only fatality linked to the bushfires so far.<\/p>\n A man in his 60s was found dead in a vehicle in Harcourt on Friday, but police said his death was not directly linked to the fire.<\/a><\/p>\n Grants announced for bushfire victims<\/p>\n Today, Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan announced further emergency assistance grants for people affected by the fires.<\/a><\/p>\n People needing to “re-establish their principal place of residence” are eligible to receive up to $52,250.\u00a0<\/p>\n “It’s focused on people who do not have the insurance they needed to have,” Ms Allan said.<\/p>\n Several cars were destroyed in the bushfire in Harcourt. (ABC News: Danielle Bonica)<\/p>\n Yesterday, the Commonwealth and Victorian governments announced a jointly funded $19.5 million package for support.<\/p>\n This includes $10 million for livestock fodder, $5 million for a recovery support program, $2 million for a recovery hotline, $1.5 million for emergency accommodation and $1 million for mental health support.<\/p>\n![\"a](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/bc2a361150f1ffdba10ca3eadeee3d97.jpeg\")
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