Ruffy Community Band Together as Longwood Blaze Claims 30 Homes

RUFFY: The first assessment of the devastation in Ruffy has revealed a town scarred by loss, but bolstered by stories of incredible civilian bravery.

CFA Captain George Noye conducted a damage sweep of the north-east village today, confirming a tragic list of destroyed landmarks. Among the losses are 30 homes, the local primary school, the historic church, an engineering workshop, and the community pavilion.

As the fire moved with terrifying speed on Thursday, a group of 12 residents led by farriers Kim and Dan Leach made the harrowing decision to stay and defend their properties.

“I came down to catch up with Dan to try to set some sort of plan, but it’s pretty hard to plan when it comes so quick,” said neighbor Scott Rowan.

Working with no professional gear or respirators, the group utilized a makeshift fleet of five vehicles to combat the embers and spot fires. One of the vehicles, a 1963 Austin truck, nearly gave out due to a leaking radiator before the team used an emergency “bush hack”—egg whites—to seal the leaks and keep the engine running.

From their home and farrier business, Kim and Dan Leach cobbled together a group of 12 neighbours and workers to stay and fight.

The group’s efforts resulted in the preservation of eight homes and several small farms that would have otherwise been lost to the “obliterated” wreck grounds of the town.

“We managed to save eight homes,” Kim Leach confirmed, though the sight of the destroyed primary school and church has left the community reeling.

Victoria’s north-east remains on high alert as fire crews continue to battle the Longwood complex. For the residents of Ruffy, the focus now shifts to recovery and supporting the families whose homes were among the 30 lost in the initial surge.

Captain Noye noted that while the heartache is immense, the bravery of the residents who stood their ground prevented the casualty list from being even longer.