In the heart of Victoria, communities are reeling from a devastating bushfire that has claimed a life, destroyed hundreds of structures, and left a trail of smouldering ruin across the landscape. The Longwood fire, which continues to burn, has already scorched an estimated 350,000 hectares, reducing homes to twisted metal and claiming the lives of countless animals.
A Desperate Stand in Yarck
On the outskirts of the small hamlet of Yarck, the air is thick with white ash and the scent of burnt earth. Here, resident David Rigby made the fateful decision to stay and defend his property when escape routes were cut off by the advancing flames. "I was actually preparing to leave at 10am yesterday," Rigby recounted on Sunday. "But by that time, you just couldn't get out. All the roads were cut."
Armed with bore water, a generator, and a network of rigged sprinklers, Rigby and about five neighbours fought desperately to save their street. While his home and garden were miraculously spared, the view from his back fence tells a different story: blackened ground and the knowledge that neighbours on the ridge lost everything. "We were pinched in the middle of it," he said. "It was calm, calm, calm, and then just hectic."
Heartbreak on the Farms
The true scale of the tragedy extends far beyond buildings. For the region's farmers and animal carers, the aftermath is one of profound loss and distress. At the Gunyah Animal Healing Sanctuary in Yarck, founder Kathy Munslow returned to find injured, hungry, and missing animals. Her recently purchased $3,000 worth of hay—a year's supply for the charity—was a pile of ash.
"The animals are standing in smouldering paddocks and the fence is still burning," Munslow said, her house saved by the CFA but everything else gone. The sentiment is echoed across the district. Local publican Chris Charman, who lost his own home, expressed a grim reality: "No one actually knows how bad it is. So many livestock are dead."
In the nearby town of Mansfield, Shane Curley of Mansfield Field Hunting and Fishing has begun donating ammunition to farmers facing the grim task of euthanising severely burnt livestock. "I had a couple of farmers in yesterday," Curley said, his voice breaking. "They had 500-600 sheep... There will be thousands of cattle and sheep that are burnt."
Recovery Efforts and Ongoing Threats
Authorities are now navigating the complex transition from firefighting to recovery. At a community meeting in Seymour, deputy incident controller Greg Murphy warned residents that the danger is not over. The fire had spread across 136,000 hectares, with downed power lines, fallen trees, and thick smoke still posing significant risks.
"We're not out of the woods yet," Murphy stated, urging patience as crews work to make roads safe. He cautioned against residents attempting to bypass roadblocks, emphasising that the process, while thorough, must be conducted safely. Official figures confirm the fire has destroyed at least 300 structures, including 80 homes.
State Nationals MP Annabelle Cleeland, who fears her family farm may have lost 1,000 sheep, is helping coordinate animal feed drives. "Everyone here has been impacted by this tragedy," she said. "It's no one, no one will be unscathed." As the community braces for the long road ahead, the immediate focus remains on caring for surviving animals and supporting those who have lost everything.
