The Victorian bushfire emergency has taken a fatal turn, with one person confirmed dead as more than 20 fires continue to burn across the state, two of them at emergency warning level.
Victoria Police said the body was found on Sunday night in an area affected by the Longwood fire near Gobur in central Victoria, about 100 metres from a vehicle.
The person has not yet been formally identified and a report will be prepared for the coroner.
Premier Jacinta Allan said her thoughts were with the person’s family and loved ones.
“This loss will be felt far beyond Gobur, and it marks the first known fire-related fatality during what has already been an incredibly challenging period for our state,” she said.
Total fire bans are in place for Victoria’s north-east and north-central districts, with poor air quality forecast from Monday.
The fire near Walwa on the NSW border remains at emergency warning level, while residents in Irrewillipe in the state’s south-west have been told to take shelter as a fire in the Otways burns towards Bungador.
By Sunday evening, about 390,000 hectares had been burnt. Chief Fire Officer Chris Hardman said the death “really takes the wind out of [his crew’s] sails”.
“We always have the primacy of life at the forefront and the centre of our thinking — It’s what drives and motivates us,” he said.
While lower winds on Sunday aided firefighting efforts, Hardman said the Otways fire front remained “really concerning” and warned conditions could worsen later this month.
At least 300 structures have been impacted, with damage assessments continuing.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Premier Allan on Sunday announced a $19.5 million support package for affected communities, including funding for fodder distribution, emergency accommodation and mental health support.
Source: ABC.
