Australians brace for ‘property loss or worse’ as bushfires destroy homes

BBC:

Australians in Victoria have been warned they should prepare for “property loss or worse” as much of the country faces extreme heatwave conditions.

Temperatures on Friday and Saturday are forecast to hit record highs for most states and territories, with Victoria and South Australia in particular bracing for dangerous fire conditions due to strong winds and hot temperatures.

A total fire ban is in place in Victoria and all regions across the state were given a “catastrophic” or “extreme” fire danger rating.

“Victorians should brace themselves for more property loss or worse,” Country Fire Authority (CFA) chief officer Jason Heffernan told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) on Friday.

“The conditions were extreme yesterday. They’re catastrophic today,” Heffernan said. Temperatures in Victoria are expected to hit 42C on Friday.

A bushfire near Longwood, central Victoria, has burnt through nearly 36,000 hectares, authorities said, with at least ten homes in the small town of Ruffy destroyed.

Ruffy CFA captain George Noye said the town had been “severely” affected.

“The main street looks like a bomb’s gone off, we’ve lost a school,” he told the ABC.

“Some properties have lost everything. They’ve lost their livelihoods, they’ve lost their shearing sheds, livestock, just absolutely devastating.

“But thankfully, at the moment, no lives have been lost.”

Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Bob Hill said three people – two adults and a child – remain unaccounted for in the Longwood area.

He said authorities spoke to them yesterday at their property, warning them to seek shelter as it was too late to evacuate. Fire officials returned later to find the home had burnt down but could not locate the three people.

“They may be safe, they may be alive, let’s not get ahead of ourselves, but we are keeping an open mind,” Hill said.