Recovery mission begins amid ongoing bushfire threat
Rescue efforts continue in a region devastated by raging wildfires, but for many the future remains uncertain.
Two major Victorian bushfires, including the Longwood fire in the state’s north, are expected to rage for weeks.
Cooler conditions may bring some relief to firefighting efforts, but for many small communities the damage has already been done.
Police confirmed Sunday that human remains were found near a fire-affected road in Gobur, a remote area east of Seymour.
The remains have not yet been identified but were found 100 meters away from a car.
The area affected by the fire was scorched as the Longwood fire roared on Friday.
Paddocks are littered with the remains of animals and livestock that failed to reach safety.
Ruffy Country Fire Marshal Captain George Noye told AAP half the small town’s residents had lost their homes or a structure.
The local primary school was also unrecognizable after being burned down.
“It’s incredible how large this fire is. A lot of people left early,” Mr. Noye said.
“With the conditions we had, it could have been a lot worse.”
The Longwood fire has burned nearly 136,000 hectares since it started amid catastrophic conditions.
The fire is still burning as crews try to clear roads so aid and aid can be delivered.
More than 350,000 hectares have burned across the state and more than 300 properties have been lost after summer heat triggered out-of-control bushfires.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Prime Minister Jacinta Allan visited the regional town of Bendigo on Sunday and announced financial assistance to residents hit hard by the fires.
Residents in communities hardest hit by wildfires can claim one-time disaster recovery payments of $1,000 for each adult and $400 per child as part of a $19.5 million package.
As part of the package, a $10 million program to help distribute feed to farmers in need will also be implemented.
The leaders also visited the small community of Harcourt to witness the devastation firsthand.
At least 50 houses and buildings were destroyed in the fire that continued to burn.
A state of emergency was declared in 18 local government areas.
There have been several emergency-level fires across the state, but firefighting efforts have been concentrated on a large blaze in central Victoria and another in the northeast, near the NSW border.
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