Victorian Farmers Reeling After Worst Fires Since Black Summer
News Agreggator using GeminAI/Image from Australian Associated Press
Monday 12 January,2025
CENTRAL VICTORIA — A humanitarian and agricultural crisis is unfolding across regional Victoria today as firefighters and farmers begin the grim task of surveying the wreckage left by the state’s most devastating bushfires in six years. Following a week of catastrophic heat and dry lightning, over 350,000 hectares have been scorched, claiming at least one life and leaving thousands of livestock dead.
Premier Jacinta Allan has declared a State of Disaster for 18 Local Government Areas, granting emergency services sweeping powers as 36 fires continue to burn across the state.
A Landscape of Loss
In the hard-hit townships of Longwood, Ruffy, and Yarck, the scale of the destruction is being compared to a war zone. Local CFA Captain George Noye described the scene in Ruffy as if “a bomb has gone off,” with the town’s primary school and dozens of homes reduced to ash.
The Longwood fire alone has ballooned to over 136,000 hectares, creating a fire footprint so large that authorities warn it may take weeks to fully contain. As of Monday, more than 300 structures—including at least 80 homes—are confirmed destroyed.
Deceased sheep are seen in a burnt out paddock in Ruffy, Victoria, Sunday, January 11, 2026. Fire-fighters battled multiple fronts across Victoria on Saturday, destroying at least 300 structures and burning 300,000 hectares of bush and farmland. (AAP Image/James Ross) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY
“Thousands” of Stock Dead or Injured
For Victoria’s agricultural sector, the blow is catastrophic. Preliminary reports from the Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) suggest livestock losses have already surpassed 15,500 head, though this number is expected to climb sharply as farmers gain access to scorched paddocks.
The scenes on the ground are harrowing:
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Mass Euthanasia: Farmers in the Yarck and Longwood regions have been forced to euthanize hundreds of sheep and cattle suffering from horrific burns. Ammunition was reportedly rushed to the front lines over the weekend to assist with the mercy killings.
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Infrastructure Ruined: Thousands of kilometers of fencing have been vaporized, and hay sheds—the lifeblood of summer feeding—have been lost, leaving surviving animals with no food or water.
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Total Flock Losses: Some producers have reported losing their entire livelihoods in a single afternoon. “We don’t know the full extent yet,” said one local producer, “but we are finding dead animals lining the roads—some so charred they are unrecognizable.”
The Road to Recovery
A $10 million emergency fodder program has been activated to rush feed to surviving stock standing in “smouldering paddocks.” The state and federal governments have also announced disaster recovery payments of $1,000 per adult for those who have lost their homes.
However, for many, the emotional toll is the heaviest burden. “This is a community that is grieving,” the Premier said during a visit to Harcourt. “They’ve lost their livelihoods, their shearing sheds, and their history.”
As a cold front brings slight relief in temperature, it also brings the risk of erratic winds. Firefighters warn that while the “worst day” may have passed, the danger remains “incredibly dynamic.”
How You Can Help or Get Help
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Emergency Fodder: Farmers needing feed or looking to donate can contact the VFF Emergency Fodder Program at 1300 882 833.
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Financial Assistance: Impacted residents can apply for the Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment via Services Australia.
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Mental Health: The Emergency Recovery Hotline is available for those needing counseling and social support.
