The Country Fire Authority (CFA) declared a statewide fire ban for Friday and Saturday as some 60 fires blaze across Victoria.
Three people are missing, properties have been destroyed and a firefighter was hospitalised in some of the state’s worst bushfires.
Meteorologist Sarah Scully said temperatures across Victoria had risen past 40C and damaging wind gusts about 90km/h were making it difficult to control or contain fires.
“It’s a very hot day that’s contributing to these fire dangers, with maximum temperatures in the low to mid 40s.”
Terrifying series of a ‘fire tornado’ has emerged as bushfires burn out of control across Victoria.
About 70,000 homes and businesses are without power. Catastrophic fire conditions and 90km/h winds continue to fuel fast-moving fires as hundreds of firefighters battle blazes in searing heat across the state.
Footage shared on social media on Friday afternoon shows a ‘fire tornado’ near Burrowye on the banks of the Murray River on the Victorian-NSW border.
The video was posted by Jaclyn Mclean with the caption: “Have you ever seen a fire tornado developing”.
Fire tornado tears through bushland
An alarming video was shared of a developing ‘fire tornado’ as blazes tear through Victorian bushland.less
The Country Fire Authority (CFA) declared a statewide fire ban for Friday and Saturday as some 60 fires blaze across Victoria.
Three people are missing, properties have been destroyed and a firefighter was hospitalised in some of the state’s worst bushfires.
Meteorologist Sarah Scully said temperatures across Victoria had risen past 40C and damaging wind gusts about 90km/h were making it difficult to control or contain fires.
“It’s a very hot day that’s contributing to these fire dangers, with maximum temperatures in the low to mid 40s.”
Ms Scully damaging wind gusts with severe storms could create “really erratic fire behaviour.”
She said heatwave conditions, increased fuel load, dry lightning and wind change were all contributing to the dangerous fire conditions.
“Wind changes are notoriously difficult to fight fires in and create really erratic fire behaviour, but we have those damaging wind gusts as well.”
Three people last seen in front of a now-destroyed home remain unaccounted for as a town at the centre of an “uncontrollable” bushfire is ripped apart by flames.
Some communities impacted by a fire at Longwood – about 150km north of Melbourne – have been told that it is too late to leave as the fire shows no signs of easing.
Police are now searching for a man, woman and child at Longwood East, who were advised by Country Fire Authorities (CFA) on Thursday that they needed to take shelter as it was too late for them to leave safely.
“Later the that afternoon, those same fire service representatives reattended that area to see the house that they saw those three people standing in front of had been completely destroyed,” Victoria Police deputy commissioner Bob Hill said.
“Those three people remain unaccounted for. Those three people, we do not know at this point of time where they may be.
“That particular area in Longwood East where that house has been destroyed is still a hot spot, and we’re yet to be able to put the strike teams from the fire service into that area to conduct an assessment for us.”
Government assistance provided
The federal and Victorian governments have announced snap emergency relief to support households affected.