National

Missing trio found safe in Victorian bushfire crisis

Jan 10, 2026

Smoke rises from burning forest near Lockwood — Thousands of Victorians are in danger as existing blazes spark new out-of-control fires. -AAP Image

Three people missing amid Victoria's escalating bushfire crisis have been found safe.

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Meanwhile, the battle continues to control blazes that have razed at least 115 structures and more than 300,000 hectares of bush and farmland.

Having declared a state of disaster in 18 local government areas, Premier Jacinta Allana says 10 major and 20 local fires are burning.

Three people - initially reported as two adults and a child - had been unaccounted for since Thursday, when fire destroyed their house in the hard-hit town of Longwood, about 50km north of Melbourne.

However Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush said on Saturday authorities had confirmed three adults had, in fact, been found okay.

"It's taken some time for us to fully assure ourselves that those people are now safe and well ... in Benalla," he said.

Emergency Management Commissioner Tim Wiebusch said there had been significant property losses of at least 115 structures and this early estimate was expected to rise.

The toll includes: Ravenswood-Harcourt (50 structures); Longwood (30); Grass Flat (20); Yarroweyah (10) and Streatham (five).

Some 10,00ha of pine plantations and a "small number" of structures at Walwa have also been destroyed, and significant losses of livestock, cropping land and vineyards have occurred at most of the locations listed.

"We've also seen impacts to critical infrastructure, in particular the Bendigo railway line that has been impacted by fire and is now closed," Mr Wiebusch said.

There are 16 relief centres open across the state, which is under a total fire ban.

Ruffy CFA Captain George Noye told AAP crews were working to clear roads after fire tore through the small town on Friday.

He said the focus was now on removing debris to support the recovery process. A school was among the property losses in the town.

CFA chief officer Jason Heffernan said a firefighter was hospitalised with third-degree burns to his hands, a volunteer required hospital treatment after being hit in the face by a hose and an interstate firefighter who had a medical episode was airlifted to Melbourne.

"I'd like to report that all three firefighters are doing just fine," he said.

A number of crews were also forced to initiate entrapment drill procedures as a result of being overrun by fire on Friday, Mr Heffernan said, and one CFA tanker was destroyed.