Firefighters still wary of Grampians outbreak after fire destroys at least three homes
Share:
Prime minister announces disaster recovery payments for survivors as premier gives ‘heartfelt’ thanks to firefighters. At least three homes and nearly a dozen outbuildings have been destroyed by the fire in Victoria’s Grampians, as a new fire threatens homes and lives in Western Australia.
![[Victoria fires: 'difficult’ weather for firefighters as 55,000 hectares burn in Grampians - video]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/177177454db036cee0af6c16fc1c4531f7b6d53b/0_546_6922_3894/6922.jpg?width=465&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
The Victorian premier, Jacinta Allan, said on Sunday morning that assessments of the damage were still continuing, and the full impact of the blaze was not yet clear. She thanked those in the path of the fire for listening to warnings and taking action to stay safe.
But she reminded Victorians that it was only the “start of a dangerous summer period”. Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email. The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, said federal and state disaster recovery payments would be available from 2pm Monday for people directly affected by the fires, providing up to 13 weeks of income support.
Allan gave “heartfelt” thanks to the firefighters who fought the fire, which had been traced back to a lightening strike, over the Christmas period. She said it was remarkable that a fire that has so far burned through 76,000 hectares had not resulted in any loss of life.
“There have been three properties lost at current estimates and our thoughts also go to those property owners, farmers, primary producers who have lost livestock as well,” she said. Allan said the fire was expected to continue to burn for some time, with firefighters keeping a 384km perimeter around the blaze at any given time, wary of the wind acting as a “ignition point”.
