The cruelty of the Victorian bushfires has been laid bare in the small town of Natimuk. As the count of destroyed properties across the state climbs to a staggering 350, a heartbreaking statistic has emerged: among the homeless are the very heroes who were out fighting the flames.

Premier Jacinta Allan, fighting back tears, revealed that several volunteer firefighters from the Country Fire Authority (CFA) returned from their shifts to find their own homes reduced to ash. "They weren't here to protect their own patch because they were out protecting others," Allan said. "That is the definition of sacrifice."

The Destruction of Natimuk

Natimuk, a tight-knit community 25km west of Horsham, was decimated by the Grass Flat blaze on Friday. At least 30 homes—a significant chunk of the town’s housing stock—were wiped out in minutes. The fire moved so fast that residents had no time to grab valuables.

• The Housing Crisis: With 350 homes gone across the state (and the number expected to rise as assessors reach cut-off areas), Victoria faces a displacement crisis. Emergency accommodation is full. The Premier has announced a state fundraising appeal, but money cannot instantly rebuild a community.
• The Ongoing Threat: The danger is not over. Emergency Management Commissioner Tim Wiebusch warned that while temperatures have dipped slightly, the underlying dryness means the fire risk will spike again later in the week. "These fires are dormant monsters," he said.
• Community Spirit: Despite the loss, the spirit of "mateship" is holding. In Natimuk, residents who lost nothing are opening their doors to those who lost everything. "We will rebuild," said a local CFA captain whose own shed was scorched. "That's what we do."

A Policy Reckoning?

The disaster has reignited the debate on climate resilience and support for volunteer firefighters. Critics argue that relying on unpaid volunteers to fight mega-fires driven by climate change is unsustainable. But for now, the focus is on grief and recovery in a landscape painted black.