Communities across Victoria are preparing for a day of catastrophic fire danger, with residents forced to flee their homes as bushfires rage amid the state's worst heatwave since the devastating Black Summer of 2019-20.
Fleeing with What's Precious
Eighty-two-year-old Jan Sporry and her husband faced an agonising decision when they had to evacuate their home near Ruffy. With their ten-year-old kelpie, Ruby, they sought safety at the disaster relief centre established at the Seymour Sports and Aquatic Centre. The couple, who have lived in their home since 1986, packed photos, documents, and precious needlework, unsure if their property would survive. "We just have to keep our fingers crossed and hope," Sporry said.
A Community on High Alert
The relief centre became a hub of anxious activity, hosting a community meeting where locals gathered for urgent updates. Several evacuees arrived with caravans, settling in for an uncertain night. The mood was one of grim preparedness, shaped by the traumatic memories of past fires.
One local resident, Maree, attended with her two sons, who both live with disabilities. Having experienced the Black Summer fires, she was determined not to be caught unprepared. "I know what happened then, so I would rather be 100% sure what's going on now," she stated, her bags packed with water, radios, and identification.
The fires burning at Longwood threatened to spread further, with authorities advising residents in some towns that it was too late to leave and they must shelter indoors. Fire crews, like the Kelvin View brigade who had been on the ground since 7 am, battled exhaustion and the elements.
Dire Warnings and Scrambled Supplies
Country Fire Authority Chief Officer Jason Heffernan issued a stark warning for Friday, forecasting potentially dire conditions with wind gusts up to 100km/h and temperatures in the mid to upper 40s across northern Victoria. "[Friday] is a very, very dire bushfire day in the state of Victoria," he emphasised.
The tension was palpable in Seymour. Supermarket shelves showed noticeable gaps, with bottled water almost sold out and batteries cleared. Residents loaded trolleys with supplies; one man's was stacked high with two-minute noodles, while a mother named June filled her car with litres of water alongside her 14 and 10-year-old children.
"It's scary," June said, pointing to the distant sky where white clouds merged with grey smoke from the Longwood blaze. "Everyone is worried... Anything could happen." The shadow of the 2019-20 bushfire season, which devastated nearby Kinglake and Marysville, loomed large. June noted a friend's emergency bag from that period remained packed and unopened.
State MP for Eildon, Cindy McLeish, reported widespread anxiety in her constituency. While acknowledging some might "be stubborn" and stay, she said most were vigilant and preparing to evacuate. A total fire ban is in place for all of Victoria, with many districts rated at 'catastrophic' danger level.
As night fell, June offered a simple, hopeful plea: "Now, we just pray for rain." A light shower later fell over Seymour, but it was a fleeting respite, insufficient to mitigate the severe risk facing the state as it braces for a catastrophic Friday.
