At least 16 structures have been destroyed by the Otways fire, with a heatwave still impacting Victoria's north-east. The Carlisle River fire has ravaged 11,355 hectares, and a wind change yesterday delivered gusts of 50 to 70 kilometres per hour. A separate fire near Lismore destroyed two structures and stock on 10 properties at Larralea. Six major fires continue to burn across the state, including three out-of-control fires at Walwa, Dargo, and Carlisle River. Warnings have been downgraded in some areas, but an Emergency Warning remains in place for several towns. Almost 160 people sought refuge at relief centres in Colac overnight, and more than 105,000 customers lost power. The heat is impacting infrastructure, with power outages and heat stress on transformers and fuses. The Gellibrand Water Treatment Plant is unable to supply water, leaving the town without tap water. A total fire ban is in place for the Wimmera and North East, facing extreme fire danger. An extreme heat warning is in effect, with eight consecutive days of severe to extreme intensity heatwave expected. Temperature records fell at 20 stations across Victoria yesterday, with a station record of 45.6 degrees Celsius in Laverton, Melbourne. The heatwave is intense in areas ravaged by fires, such as Harcourt, where residents are feeling the heat. Dozens of children have been locked in cars, leading to deadly consequences. Canadian firefighters from Alberta and British Columbia have arrived to assist local firefighters, and the federal government has provided a Black Hawk chopper to help fight fires. The cause of the Ravenswood South fire, which destroyed 50 homes, is not suspicious, and no arrests have been made.
