By Nate Woodall, Jessica Longbottom and Madi Chwasta, ABC News
Don Deelen lost his home to the Longwood bushfire. Photo: ABC News / Jessica Longbottom
Don Deelen says most people would think he was stupid for staying to defend his property from a bushfire.
"You do what you think you have to do," Deelen said. "It's my house."
The 82-year-old cattle farmer from the central Victorian town of Koriella, which was ravaged in the Longwood bushfires, said he was putting out spot fires with a hose, when his garage caught alight.
Don Deelen says he stayed to defend his property. Photo: ABC / Jessica Longbottom
"I turned around to put it out and the water ran out," he said. "That's when the fire travelled through the house and took it.
"I just had to save myself then."
Deelen said his wife and children evacuated before the fire reached their home, where they had lived for about 40 years.
"I must admit I'm a bit stoic… they were probably sensible," he said.
Don Deelen's home of 40 years was destroyed. Photo: ABC / Jessica Longbottom
He said he had lost about 900 bales of hay, two sheds and the entire contents of their home, but "amazingly", Deelen said he returned to find his cattle had survived the blaze, resting in a blackened and burnt paddock.
"I wasn't expecting that."
While he was insured, Deelen said he and his wife did not think they would rebuild.
"The damage is enormous," he said.
Despite the fire ravaging his home, Don Deelen's cattle survived. Photo: ABC News / Danielle Bonica
More than 150 structures destroyed by Longwood fire
Deelen's house was among the numerous structures destroyed by the Longwood fire.
Emergency Management Commissioner Tim Wiebusch said 154 structures were confirmed as razed during the Longwood blaze, with a total of 350 across the state, due to the state's ongoing bushfire disaster.
Wiebusch said, on Monday afternoon, 12 major blazes were still burning, including two in the Otways, the Longwood fire, the Walwa fire in northeast Victoria and the Harcourt fire near Bendigo.
He said more than 1000 agricultural properties had been impacted, while the Victorian Farmers Federation estimated the livestock loss was more than 15,000.
A man who died as a result of the Longwood fire was identified as Max Hobson.
The cattle farmer's death was the only fatality linked to the bushfires so far.
A man in his 60s was found dead in a vehicle in Harcourt on Friday, but police said his death was not directly linked to the fire.
Grants announced for bushfire victims
On Monday, Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan announced further emergency assistance grants for people affected by the fires.
People needing to "re-establish their principal place of residence" were eligible to receive up to $52,250.
"It's focused on people who do not have the insurance they needed to have," Allan said.
Several cars were destroyed in the bushfire in Harcourt. Photo: ABC News / Danielle Bonica
On Sunday, the Commonwealth and Victorian governments announced a jointly funded $19.5 million package for support.
This included $10m for fodder for livestock, $5m for a recovery support programme, $2m for a recovery hotline, $1.5m for emergency accommodation and $1m for mental health support.
The state government is launching the 2026 Victorian Bushfire Appeal, with donations open online from Tuesday, 13 January.
The government said 100 percent of the donations would go to fire-affected communities.
Only one emergency warning remained in place and that was for the Walwa fire in northeast Victoria.
The Otways fires and the Longwood fire were still not under control, but had been downgraded to watch-and-act warning.
- ABC
