Overview
- Incident controller Michael Masters said crews are conducting burning-out operations to firm a southern containment line where parts of the fire are still running.
- Residents were allowed to visit or return to Harcourt, but they encountered contaminated tap water, patchy mobile service and intermittent power.
- Coliban Water issued a do-not-drink advisory affecting about 500 customers and warned boiling will not remove contamination, with restoration possibly taking up to two weeks.
- Powercor worked to restore supply on Monday, repairs are needed to 5.7 kilometres of Bendigo line track, and fixing the Mount Alexander communications tower is expected to take days.
- Authorities reported about 47 homes destroyed, a recovery hub opened at Castlemaine Town Hall, and police increased reassurance patrols while investigating a reported burglary at a vacant Harcourt home.