A ferocious and uncontrolled bushfire has ripped through the small Victorian town of Ruffy, leaving a trail of destruction described by its local fire captain as looking "like a bomb's gone off." The blaze, burning in the Strathbogie Ranges approximately 175km north of Melbourne, has confirmed the loss of at least ten properties, including the home of a firefighter battling the flames.
Community Hub and Homes Lost in Devastating Blaze
Country Fire Authority Captain George Noye, a resident of Ruffy, reported the severe impact on the community. The fire, which moved south-east towards the town, destroyed a former school that served as a vital community hub, alongside multiple homes. "The town's been impacted severely," Noye told ABC Radio, highlighting the danger of simply navigating the local roads in the aftermath.
The human cost of the disaster is deeply personal for the firefighting crews. One CFA member was hospitalised with serious third-degree burns to his hands. In a cruel twist, firefighter Darryl Otzen discovered his own property in Ruffy had been destroyed while he was out fighting the firefront. "It's a bit of shit when you've been out for two-and-a-half days and you come back on the truck and drive past what used to be your house," Otzen said.
Fire Conditions Described as Unstoppable
Firefighters described witnessing the fire's terrifying behaviour, driven by hot, dry, and windy conditions that rendered it virtually unstoppable. Otzen explained that extremely low moisture content in the grass, combined with strong winds, allowed the blaze to "jump and jump and jump" across landscapes, at one point leaping nearly a kilometre between ridges. The intensity of the fire even generated its own weather system, including lightning and thunder.
The impact on local farmers has been catastrophic. Farmer Chris McDermott, who managed to save two houses on his land, reported that his brothers-in-law on neighbouring properties were not as fortunate. One lost everything—home, sheds, vehicles, and stock—while the other lost key farming infrastructure and livestock.
State of Emergency and Catastrophic Warnings
As the situation developed, authorities issued a new emergency warning early on Friday for Ruffy and numerous surrounding towns—including Longwood, Strathbogie, and Gobur—instructing residents it was too late to leave and to immediately take shelter. A separate bushfire in north-east Victoria, near Walwa, has burned through approximately 4,500 hectares and prompted urgent evacuation orders.
The state is bracing for what officials have termed "catastrophic" fire conditions across many parts of Victoria on Friday. This is the first such warning issued since the devastating Black Summer fires of 2019-20. In preparation, the Hume Highway has been closed and regional train services cancelled.
Despite the devastation, the community's resilience is emerging. Captain Noye affirmed, "The community is incredibly resilient and we will get through this. We did our best. Thankfully we're all alive." The focus now turns to containment efforts and supporting those who have lost everything.
