Senior meteorologist Angus Hines said temperatures and wind speeds “aren’t particularly high”, which was good news for firefighters, but added that a lack of rain forecast was troublesome.
“It is another dry day, so there’s no support or help from rain, which is sort of the No.1 thing we’d be hoping for at the moment across those active fire grounds,” he told the ABC.
A high fire danger rating has been declared for the Mallee, Wimmera, North Central, North East and South West districts, while other regions are considered to have moderate risk.
On Tuesday, Premier Jacinta Allan announced that the state government has spent an initial $10 million in state and federal funding to assist uninsured fire victims with cleaning up their destroyed homes. An additional $5 million has been spent to waive tip fees for fire-affected communities.
“Households that are starting to move into the recovery phase … they want to get going. They want to get the clean-up underway, it’s a practical way you can get moving,” Allan told reporters at Alexandra, on the fringe of the Longwood fire.
That fire claimed the life of local cattle farmer Maxwell Hobson, who died after the fire closed in on him while he was driving.
Ninety homes were destroyed in the Longwood fire. Credit: Getty Images
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese opened his Tuesday morning press conference by expressing his condolences over Hobson’s death.
“That community will be grieving today and I say to those people in Victoria, but also those in the flood-affected areas of North Queensland: this is not over,” said Albanese.
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“Please stay safe, listen to the authorities and once again, I thank the volunteers, the police and emergency services, the rural fire service and others who are helping each other get through what is a very difficult time.”
Tuesday’s $15 million relief package follows Monday’s announcement that grants of up to $52,000 for householders who lost their homes in the fires and were not insured.
Nearly 800 people have also applied for hardship payments of up to $1000 per adult and $400 per child.
Allan said more relief funding would be announced in due course.
