Victoria's battle against 27 raging bushfires has left one person dead and nearly 400,000 hectares of land scorched. The fires have ravaged the state, with massive blazes at Walwa and the Otway Ranges still at emergency level. The Otways blaze is believed to be the largest in the area since Ash Wednesday in 1983, according to Barongarook CFA captain Steve Brooke. The Longwood fire, which turned fatal, was downgraded to watch and act level late on Sunday afternoon. Residents were urged to stay away from the fire-affected areas. In total, 395,100 hectares have been burnt, with over 300 structures and countless livestock lost. Several fires could burn for weeks, a State Control Centre spokeswoman said. The Bureau of Meteorology cancelled heatwave warnings after days of scorching temperatures, but temperatures are still expected to reach the low to mid-30s in two major fire zones on Monday. Melbourne, Geelong, Ballarat, the South West and Wimmera continue to experience poor air quality, while it is very poor in the Mallee, Northern Country, North East, and West and South Gippsland. A total fire ban remains in place for the North East and North Central districts today. Warnings are in place for residents around the Walwa fire, with those in Bungil, Burrowye and Granya urged to leave immediately. Authorities warn it’s too late to leave for residents in Berringama, Bullioh, Koetong, Lucyvale, Shelley, Tallangatta Valley and surrounds. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Premier Jacinta Allan announced an additional $19.5 million in funding for fire-affected communities, on top of the personal hardship grants announced on Friday. About half of the extra funding will help distribute hay to farmers in need, while the rest will go to initiatives like emergency accommodation and mental health support.
