A network of support: How Melbourne’s eastern suburbs reacted to the weekend’s bushfires

Fires blazing throughout Victoria over the weekend saw plumes of smoke drifting across Melbourne, with more than 20 active fires still burning across the state.

A number of fire brigades sent teams and tankers out to affected areas in Longwood and Alexandra, while the Lilydale High School basketball stadium opened its doors to serve as a refuge for those fleeing south.

🔥 What happened? Countless emergency alerts were sent out to Victorians across the state from Friday night onwards, as a number of fires burnt through communities near Alexandra in the state’s north-east, exacerbated by temperatures as high as 46 degrees and windy conditions. 

• The extreme heat experienced across the country’s east had been forecast as some of the worst conditions since the 2019/2020 Black Summer bushfires.

• Police confirmed on Sunday that human remains had been found near a fire-affected road at Gobur, a remote area east of Seymour.

• Watch and Act alerts are still in place for communities within the Alexandra fire area as of Monday morning.

🧑‍🚒 All hands on deck: Teams from local brigades suited up and made the trek to provide support to the frontlines at fires in Alexandra and Longwood, including Montrose, Healesville, Lilydale and Belgrave South.

✍️ 🤝 Government response: In the early hours of Saturday morning, Premier Jacinta Allan declared a State of Disaster for 18 Local Government Areas and one Alpine Resort – including Murrindindi – following advice from the Minister for Emergency Services and the Emergency Management Commissioner.

• The declaration gave the government the powers and resources it needed to keep Victorians safe, including taking possession and making use of any property to respond to the disaster and compelling people to evacuate from the disaster area.

• Premier Allan joined Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Sunday to announce an initial $19.5 million support package for bushfire-affected Victorians, including a $10 million emergency support program to help distribute hay.

🛟 Local communities step up: Yarra Ranges Council co-ordinated an emergency relief centre at Lilydale High School’s basketball stadium for those fleeing affected areas late on Friday, with The Salvation Army emergency relief team and Animal Aid on hand.

• Yarra Ranges Council and the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing is operating an information centre at the Lilydale High School site from 9am to 4.30pm, every day, as needed.

• Local food relief organisation Outer East Foodshare sent several hundred kilograms of food to the Healesville Community Link, while Rowville-based food charity Share Space donated a large load of water.

Image Credit: Michael Currie/AAP Image and Lilydale CFA Fire Brigade