Fires in Victoria destroy estimated 300 homes, former police chief to lead Bushfire Recovery Victoria

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews says at least 200 homes have been confirmed lost in the state's bushfires, but that number is expected to rise to 300 when assessment teams complete their work. Key points: The full scale of destruction is still being calculated, as smoke and fires hinder access in affected areas Former police commissioner Ken Lay will lead a new recovery agency You can get the latest information from the Vic Emergency website or donate to the Victorian Bushfire Appeal Police estimate 67,000 people fled the fires in East Gippsland and north-east Victoria, but all of those who were reported missing have now been found. Mr Andrews told a press conference in Melbourne the Government would provide $50 million to set up a new agency, Bushfire Recovery Victoria, to be headed by former police commissioner Ken Lay. "The fact we've been able to pull back from the emergency warnings to watch and acts reflects the suppressed fire behaviour we're seeing at the moment," Mr Crisp said. Mr Andrews said while the initial $50 million would start the agency's work, the recovery effort would cost "many hundreds of millions of dollars".