SURVIVORS COUNT COST
THE true scale of destruction left by fires blazing across rural southwest Victoria is yet to be determined, but several homes and thousands of livestock are already lost.
Four significant fires continued to burn last night, with alerts in place for Gazette, Garvoc, Terang and Camperdown, after more than two days of keeping crews busy.
The Country Fire Authority says 15,000ha of land have been burnt, reducing initial estimates of 40,000ha of devastation.
The fires have claimed up to 18 homes and 42 dairy and machinery sheds as well as hundreds of livestock, with the death count expected to run into the thousands 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.
But a young couple will spend their first wedding anniversary putting their lives back together after their home was lost in the fires.
Rebecca Jones and her husband, Barney, had just finished renovating their fourbedroom home in Elingamite when it was wiped out during the fires.
“It’s something you never prepare yourself Ms Jones said.
She was scrolling through Facebook on her phone when she discovered a video posted by her neighbour of fires bearing down on their home.
“We felt like sitting ducks,” she said. can for,”
It was a call from her father that confirmed Ms Jones’ worst fears before they returned to their property.
“Within 20 minutes, we could see the flames coming to the house,” she said.
The young couple managed to save their pet dog and grab some clothes before retreating to Mr Jones’ father’s home.
The couple was then forced to evacuate to a friend’s house in Warrnambool before bushfires again threatened.
Ms Jones said the community’s help and support had kept the couple going.
“We appreciate everything the volunteers have done over the last 24- 48 hours, fighting fires in their own backyard, knowing their house could be next,” she said.
“Nothing can explain the e feeling of losing something g you’ve worked so hard for but t at least we have our lives.”
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.
He said his heart went out to people who lost their homes, livelihoods and herds.
“I want these communities to know that the Government will stand with them.”