A strong fire hit Harcourt in Victoria, destroying about 50 homes, officials said. Many residents, like Peter Suelzle, escaped just in time, saving their house while neighbors lost everything. The fire scorched bushes and trees, damaged sheds, and turned belongings to ash. Police blocked access to the town, but some onlookers tried to enter, only to be stopped by the CFA. As Suelzle told media, "I left work at about 3.30, loaded the dogs and the cat and took off. We went to our daughter’s place in Bendigo. We were lucky." The fire cut power, internet, and water pressure to houses in Harcourt, Castlemaine, and nearby areas. Many lost radio and TV signals, but some, including the Suelzles, could get updates via Triple M radio. Others, like Chris and Augustine Sheppard, watched their investment property burn while their home stayed safe. Augustine said, "I couldn’t find the cat yesterday so I got the dogs, let the chooks out and left for Castlemaine." In Harcourt North, Prue Walduck and Ada Milley stayed overnight to defend their straw bale house and the alpacas. Walduck said, "There was a predicted wind change that would have turned it around straight back on us. So we took it in two- and three-hour turns." The fire left a "scorched earth," said Colin Pickering of Blackwood Orchard. He noted many spots could reignite and stressed the danger is not over. "We’re not out of danger," Walduck warned. At a Castlemaine community meeting, officials could not give exact counts but confirmed key public buildings, including the primary school, were saved. The Coolstore Cafe was destroyed, and the miniature railway was damaged but intact. CFA incident controller Michael Masters called the situation "too dynamic" for residents to return home safely yet. Mount Alexander mayor Toby Heydon said local leaders kept working on fire response despite some losing homes. A recovery center will open in Castlemaine on Monday to support those affected.