The aftermath of the Longwood bushfire paints a picture of resilience and devastation. In the small farming town of Yarck, Victoria, the ground still smolders, with charred gumtrees and swirling white ash serving as grim reminders. Houses across the region lie in ruins, reduced to twisted steel and brick chimneys.
Amidst this destruction, Dave Rigby's property stands as a beacon of hope. His green grass and immaculate garden contrast sharply with the blackened earth just meters away. Rigby shares his story of facing the inferno head-on.
"I was ready to leave yesterday morning, but by the time I went to check on my neighbors, it was too late. All the roads were blocked," Rigby recalls. With determination, he took matters into his own hands, utilizing bore water and a generator to set up sprinklers and hose down his home. Alongside a small group of neighbors, they fought to protect their street, and many homes were saved.
"It was stressful. The wind howled, and the smoke obscured our vision. The trees bent under its force," he describes. The Country Fire Authority (CFA) members from Yarck had been battling the blaze in Longwood, but were forced to retreat, defending their own homes instead.
Rigby points to the nearby hills, where neighbors' houses were razed. A dairy farm, a small shack, and his back neighbor's home—all lost. "We were caught in the middle. Flames danced along the ridge line, and then suddenly, it was chaos," he says.
As bushfires continue to rage across Victoria, residents yearn to return home, but authorities must ensure their safety first. The extent of the damage remains unknown, but at least 300 structures, including 80 homes, have been destroyed, with 350,000 hectares burned. One life was lost, and the body was found near Yarck Road.
Anxious residents take to social media, seeking reassurance and asking for help. On the other side of the ridge, Kathy Munslow returns to her animal shelter, the Gunyah Animal Healing Sanctuary, to find many animals injured, hungry, and some missing. "The only thing standing is my house, saved by the CFA. Everything else is gone. I feel scared and alone," Munslow shares.
Like many others, Munslow desperately searches for food for her surviving animals. Her recent $3,000 hay purchase, a significant expense for a struggling charity, is now a pile of ash.
"It's a year's worth of hay gone up in smoke. I only got it a week or two ago," she laments. Without power, running water, or phone reception, Munslow's challenges are immense.
Down the road, the Yarck pub remains open, thanks to Chris Charman, who keeps it running while his friend, the proprietor, tends to his property. Charman's own house burned down, but he focuses on supporting his mates who lost livestock and their livelihoods. "So many houses and farms are gone. The extent of the damage is unknown, and so many livestock have perished," he says.
Piles of burning hay and dead animals line the roads—koalas, cows, and unrecognizable carcasses. At a community meeting in Seymour, deputy incident controller Greg Murphy addresses residents, promising to facilitate their return to their properties as soon as it's safe.
Some areas are still ablaze, and Murphy emphasizes they're not out of danger yet. Powerlines are down, roads blocked by fallen trees, and thick smoke persists. A wind change could bring new threats.
"We're working to control the fire, make the roads passable, and provide much-needed relief. It's a thorough process, and we'll ensure it's done safely," Murphy assures. He cautions against impulsive actions, reminding residents of the potential consequences.
Gun shops step up, donating ammunition to exhausted farmers. Shane Curley, from Mansfield in the Victorian Alps, has already distributed hundreds of rounds. "I gave ammo to farmers with 500-600 sheep. This will be incredibly challenging," he says, his voice heavy with emotion.
After the 2019-20 fires, Curley's gun shop remained closed for over three months as he helped farmers euthanize livestock. He and his wife, Mandy, offer to cook for farmers and assist with animal euthanasia.
"It won't be easy, but I'll take any donations and distribute ammo if it helps," Curley says.
State Nationals MP Annabelle Cleeland and her husband own a farm outside Euroa. They fear they may have lost 1,000 sheep. "We need to get back to our stock. As farmers, it's our duty to ensure they have food and water. We won't let them suffer," Cleeland emphasizes.
Her electorate is at the epicenter of the fire map, and she says they're transitioning from the fight to the recovery phase. Cleeland and locals are driving efforts to provide animal feed to those in need.
"This tragedy has impacted everyone. No one will remain unscathed," she concludes.
