Twenty-four homes were destroyed by a bushfire in Pomonal and another was razed further north at Dadswells Bridge.
Homes have been lost in Victoria’s west as two out-of-control blazes burn in the Grampians after the worst day for fire conditions since the Black Summer. Follow live updates.
About 20 properties are reported to have been wiped out by the blaze,but on Wednesday afternoon many residents of Pomonal were still in the dark about whether their homes had survived.
A sudden wind shift turned 40-centimetre flames into a wall of raging fire and led to a life-or-death situation for firefighters battling to protect the Grampians town of Pomonal.
Stawell resident Peter Greenberger said he had spoken to friends from Pomonal on Tuesday evening,and it seemed likely a number of families had lost their homes.
A catastrophic fire danger warning has been issued and very hot and windy conditions have been forecast for most of Victoria,putting the state’s emergency workers on high alert.
Bullsbrook residents have been warned not to eat anything from their gardens and to empty their water tanks.
The confirmed death toll has risen to 112 people,AP reported. Hundreds remain missing. At least 1600 people have been left homeless.
The mercury is expected to hit 38 degrees in the city this weekend,with extreme fire danger and heatwave warnings for regional Victoria.
Daniel Preuss was charged with accidentally igniting a bushfire that destroyed 86 homes in the Perth hills. But charges against him were dropped after further police investigations.
A man and a woman appeared at the campsite of Michelle and Nicola. The distraught visitors asked for a phone. It’s a sign that going bush is becoming increasingly dangerous.