‘Not safe to return’ as Vic fires rage

Bushfires in Victoria’s west are continuing to burn out of control as authorities warn residents it’s “not safe” to return.

At least one home was lost on Saturday as extreme fire conditions led to more than 80 grass, scrub and bush fires across the state.

Hundreds of firefighters remain on firegrounds across the state.

Two fires remains out of control around Chapple Vale, in the state’s southwest, and in Kadnook in the far west with a watch an act alert remaining in place.

On Sunday, Emergency Management Commissioner Rick Nugent said the previous day was “incredibly challenging” but but firefighters and the wider community did an amazing job.

More than 700 hectares of land around Chapple Vale has been burnt while about 1250 hectares was lost around Kadnook.

“To date we have confirmed one house destroyed in the Kadnook fire but we also believe possibly two more homes have been lost,” he said.

“There is also stock and agricultural losses in those two areas and our teams will continue to make those assessments.”

Commissioner Nugent said the states’ emergency services had received over 200 requests for assistance overnight as severe storms impacted the state, particularly in the north.

In Shepparton, over 70 calls were made in relation to fallen trees, downed power lines and damage to homes.

Country Fire Authority chief officer Jason Heffernan said the weather conditions on Saturday led the fires to spread “very rapidly” towards rural communities.

“This afternoon when those westerly winds come through both firegrounds will remain quite dynamic,” he said.

“We’re not out of the woodwork yet.”

Mr Heffernan said it was not safe for residents around Chapple Vale and Kadnook to return as firefighters continue to assess the damage.

Traffic has now reopened along the Great Ocean Road, but visitors are warned to avoid the area.

Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Keris Arndt said winds on Sunday afternoon were expected to pose a challenge to firefighting efforts at the two fire sites.

It was a “different story” in the north, he said, with significant storm activity through parts of Central Victoria.

“There’s a severe weather warning out for heavy rainfall as well as destructive winds about the north-eastern parts of the state,” Mr Arndt said.

“We’ll see this rain continue and we could see rainfall totals reaching up to 100ml or so about exposed parts of the eastern ranges.”

Mr Arndt said conditions would settle very quickly into the coming week with milder conditions before ramping back up into next weekend.