The bushfire threat in Victoria has eased, with no emergency warnings in place for the first time since Thursday. The State Control Centre confirmed 12 major bushfires are still active, many expected to burn for days or weeks, but conditions have improved.
More than 500 structures have been damaged or destroyed, up from 350 on Monday, including at least 90 homes and 243 outbuildings in the Longwood blaze. The fires have burned 404,000 hectares of land and claimed the life of cattle farmer Maxwell Hobson, who died near Euroa.
Premier Jacinta Allan welcomed the easing conditions, praising emergency services. Federal and state governments have committed an initial $10 million to a clean-up program, with a focus on helping uninsured households. The Victorian government also allocated $5 million to waive landfill fees.
Emergency Management Commissioner Tim Wiebusch urged communities to remain alert, as conditions are expected to turn more severe around 23 or 24 January. He confirmed 20 watch and act warnings and 20 advice warnings were in place as of Tuesday morning.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed condolences for Hobson's family and warned that the situation is not over, urging people to stay safe and listen to authorities. More than 70 aircraft are available to battle the blazes, and authorities are focusing on clean-up and road reopening.
