FIRE EMERGENCY EDITION
MITCHELL • MURRINDINDI • MANSFIELD • NILLUMBIK • STRATHBOGIE • WHITTLESEA • YARRA RANGES
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SATURDAY, JANUARY 10, 2026
YEA, ALEXANDRA: EVACUATION ORDER 3 MISSING, THOUSANDS OF STOCK KILLED
● Properties at Ruffy, including the Community Hub, have been destroyed in the Longwood fire. Photo: 7News
■ Three people - two adults and a child are missing as a result of the Longwood fire. Ruffy CFA captain George Noye says about 10 properties have been destroyed and a member of his crew is in hospital with third-degree burns to his hands, according to an ABC report. “Some properties have lost everything,” he says. “They’ve lost their livelihoods, they’ve lost their shearing sheds, livestock, just absolutely devastating. “But thankfully, at the moment, no lives have been lost.” Noye told the ABC that the property losses were in an area with “60-odd mail boxes”, but it would take some time to confirm the exact losses. The telephone exchange has burnt down, so satellite phones are the only way to communicate, Noye told the ABC. Other reports put the Ruffy damage toll at closer to 20 properties. Media reports estimate that more than 140,000 hectares have been destroyed. Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said yesterday (Fri.): “"So many communities across Victoria are being told to leave tonight, including mine," she writes in a post on social media. "If you are told to leave — do not wait. Follow the advice. Leave now."
● This Yea CFA tanker was deployed to Kanumbra. Photo: Facebook
‘You are in danger and need to leave immediately’
Latest News Marysville alarm
■ Sad memories of the 2009 Black Saturday fires came when Marysville was mentioned in the Vic Emergency advisories on Friday night (Jan. 9). The alarm was later downgraded.
Black Spur closure
■ North-bound Maroondah Hwy traffic over the Black Spur was prohibited from late Friday (Jan. 9). North-bound traffic was stopped at Healesville, and motorists were told that they would not be permitted to enter the bushfire zone. South-bound traffic from the MarysvilleGranton region was free to travel into the Yarra Ranges area.
Power outages
● Ali McIvor alongside the ruins of her Longwood East home. Photos: 7News.
■ Residents of Yea and Alexandra, and other towns in the Murrindindi-Mitchell-StrathbogieMansfield region were ordered to leave their homes, on Friday afternoon (Jan. 9). By Friday night, residents of Yea, Limestone and Whanregarwen were told that it was too late to leave, and to take shelter. Also on Friday night, residents of Acheron, Devils River, Eildon, Taylor Bay and Thornton were told to take shelter. An identical alert was issued for people at Cathkin, Caveat, Ghin Ghin, Highlands, Kanumbra, Killingworth, Koriella, Molesworth, Whanregarwen and Yarck. So too were locals at Alexandra, Devils River, Fawcett, Lake Eildon and Maintongoon. A ‘Take Shelter’ advice was issued for Break O'Day, Buxton, Devlin Bridge, Flowerdale, Glenburn, Rubicon, Taggerty, Thornton, Toolangi and Woodbourne. “The bushfire is travelling from Longwood in a south-easterly direction towards Eildon. This fire is threatening homes and lives. “It is too late to leave the area safely so you must take shelter now. “Conditions will become very dangerous and unpredictable. You are in danger and need to act immediately to survive.” The fire has created havoc throughout the region. Three people are missing (see report, at left). Properties have been destroyed at Longwood and Ruffy. Thousands of stock have been killed.
● Another Longwood home destroyed
■ Ausnet reports that unscheduled electricity network outages affected a number of areas in the North-East region including: Acheron, Banyule, Beveridge, Briar Hill, Cockatoo, Creightons Creek, Croydon, Devils River, Eltham, Epping, Euroa, Gobur, Gooram, Greensborough, Humevale, Hurstbridge, Kangaroo Ground, Kanumbra, kinglake Central, Kinglake West, Kithbrook, Lalor, Locksley, Longwood, Longwood East, Macclesfield, Maintongoon, Mansfield, Merton, Montmorency, Montrose, Nangana, Panton Hill, Pheasant Creek, Research, Ruffy, Seymour, Strathbogie, Tarcombe, Thomastown, Whiteheads Creek, Whittlesea, Woodfield, Yan Yean, Yarck, Yellingbo. Properties in Yea lost electricity late on Friday (Jan. 9).
Hospital watch
● An aerial view of one of the properties destroyed at Longwood.
Alert on smoke
■ Smoke is prevalent across Victoria, says the Country Fire Authority. “You will see or smell smoke in parts of Victoria. The smoke is a result of a multiple bushfires and grassfires burning across various parts of the state. “Smoke and ash from fires in the landscape may drift to far-reaching areas away from the fires. “There is no immediate threat to the community and no action is required. “Your nose is an excellent smoke detector. If you can smell smoke, take the necessary precautions to protect your health. You can self-assess the air quality near you using https://www.epa.vic.gov.au/for-community/environmental-information/air-quality/ smoke/smoke-your-health “Take action to reduce your exposure to smoke and protect your health: “Everyone should minimise the time spent in smoky conditions whenever practical to do so,” the CFA said.
■ A fleet of fire trucks were stationed outside the Yea and District Memorial Hospital and Rosebank Extended Care Centre immediately after the call to evacuate the township.
Mains water call
■ Alexandra residents have been asked to refrain from using the mains water system. Water pressure was impacting firefighting efforts, authorities said.
MP, Cr set example
■ Eildon MLA Cindy McLeish evacuated from her home, south of Yea, late on Friday (Jan. 9). Cr Eric Lording, of Murrindini Council, made his decision to leave early on Friday morning, posting on the Local Paper social media page: “I left at 2am, I don’t need to be told twice. Hope everyone does likewise as there is not much time left before the winds get too bad.”
Total Fire Ban
■ A Total Fire Ban has been declared for Saturday, January 10.