Victoria’s Premier Jacinta Allan has declared a State of Disaster across 18 fire-affected local government areas and the Lake Mountain Alpine Resort, saying the scale of the emergency has reached “an extraordinary” level of danger. 
In a statement published just after midnight on Saturday, the Premier said the declaration does not alter existing warnings in place, but is intended to strengthen the state’s ability to protect lives, including by ordering evacuations, controlling movement through dangerous areas and compelling people to leave when authorities believe their lives are at risk. 
“It sends one clear message: if you have been told to leave – go,” the Premier said. 
The ABC reported that, as of early Saturday morning, three emergency-level fires were still active, with multiple emergency warnings and watch and act alerts in place, and a statewide total fire ban continuing. 
The State of Disaster applies to:
Alpine Shire; Ararat Rural City; Colac Otway Shire; Corangamite Shire; East Gippsland Shire; Golden Plains Shire; Greater Bendigo City; Horsham Rural City; Lake Mountain Alpine Resort (Unincorporated); Mansfield Shire; Mildura Rural City; Mitchell Shire; Moira Shire; Mount Alexander Shire; Murrindindi Shire; Pyrenees Shire; Strathbogie Shire; Towong Shire; Wellington Shire. 
People in affected areas are being urged to keep checking official warnings and follow evacuation directions. In an emergency, call 000.
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