Three people reported missing during Victoria’s escalating bushfire emergency have been found safe, offering a brief moment of relief as authorities continue battling dozens of major blazes across the state.
Police confirmed on Saturday that the three people, initially believed to be two adults and a child, were located unharmed in Benalla after being unaccounted for since Thursday. Their disappearance followed the destruction of a home in the fire-ravaged town of Longwood, about 50 kilometres north of Melbourne.
Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush said it had taken time for authorities to confirm their safety. “It’s taken some time for us to fully assure ourselves that those people are now safe and well,” he said.
The confirmation came as the scale of the bushfire crisis continued to grow. Premier Jacinta Allana has declared a state of disaster across 18 local government areas, with 10 major fires and 20 local fires currently burning. More than 300,000 hectares of bushland and farmland have been scorched, while at least 115 structures have been destroyed — a figure officials warn is likely to rise as assessments continue.
Emergency Management Commissioner Tim Wiebusch said property losses were extensive across multiple regions. The hardest-hit areas include Ravenswood-Harcourt, where about 50 structures were destroyed; Longwood with 30 losses; Grass Flat with 20; Yarroweyah with 10; and Streatham with five.
In addition, around 10,000 hectares of pine plantations have been lost, along with a small number of structures at Walwa. Significant damage has also been reported to livestock, cropping land and vineyards across affected districts. Critical infrastructure has not been spared, with fire damage forcing the closure of the Bendigo railway line.
The entire state remains under a total fire ban, and 16 relief centres are operating to support displaced residents.
Ruffy CFA Captain George Noye said crews were working to clear roads after fire swept through the small town on Friday. “The focus now is on removing debris to support the recovery process,” he said, adding that a school was among the buildings destroyed.
Firefighters have also suffered injuries. CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan said one firefighter was hospitalised with third-degree burns to the hands, another volunteer required treatment after being struck in the face by a hose, and an interstate firefighter was airlifted to Melbourne following a medical episode.
“All three firefighters are doing just fine,” Mr Heffernan said, noting that several crews were forced to enact emergency entrapment procedures as fires overran positions, and one CFA tanker was destroyed.
