Crews still working to contain fires

THE true scale of destruction left by fires blazing across rural southwest Victoria is yet to be fully determined.

Four significant fires continued to burn late yesterday, with alerts in place for Gazette, Gavroc, Terang and Camperdown, after more than two days of keeping crews busy.

The Country Fire Authority says 15,000 hectares of land have been burnt, reducing initial estimates of 40,000ha.

The fires have claimed up to 18 homes and 42 dairy and machinery sheds as well as thousands of livestock across the farming communities.

The out-of-control fires lashing the region haunt the memories of those who survived one of Victoria’s fatal blazes, Ash Wednesday, with Terang’s Chris O’Connor still remembering the 1983 event.

“Fortunately there were no lives lost. That’s the silver lining,” Mr O’Connor said of the latest fires.

Premier Daniel Andrews said the number of homes destroyed could increase as authorities tally the damage.

“The losses could have been much more significant and, ultimately, there are no funerals to go to. That is the most important thing when it comes to a fire like this,” he said from Cobden.

Emergency Management Commissioner Craig Lapsley said crews took advantage of milder conditions yesterday to battle significant hotspots in the fires. Mr Lapsley said the focus was on the welfare of the communities as schools and roads opened and power was restored.

About 1200 properties in the fire-affected areas have lost power, and for some, it will be days before it’s restored, and specialist teams are assessing the loss.

Lightning strikes on Saturday are likely responsible for the blazes, and follow 45 days of no significant rain in Victoria. Mr Andrews said police investigators were working to confirm what caused the fires.