'It was too late': Brigade commander loses home while defending neighbouring properties

Saturday, 10 January 2026 18:57

A local CFA brigade commander and his brother are coming to terms with both losing their homes.

A firefighter brigade commander and his brother are coming to terms with losing their homes, after a bushfire tore through their small town in Victoria's Central Highlands.

Tyrone Rice has worked with the County Fire Authority (CFA) for 48 years and was fighting one of the dozens of bushfires ravaging the state when he received news his own Harcourt home was in the firing line.

"It was too late, it was gone, it was already on fire," he told 9News.

A firefighter brigade commander and his brother are coming to terms with losing their homes after a bushfire tore through their small town in Victoria's Central Highlands.

Rice is now grappling with the loss.

"Bit like a kick in the guts, but I'm not the first person to go through it, and I won't be the last," he said.

Across the road, his brother is facing the same devastation.

Retirees Ray and Loretta Rice have lived in the town for 19 years and had their forever home demolished by the fire.

Now, only charred brick remains.

"Probably hasn't hit me yet," Ray said.

"Our retirement has all gone up in smoke... You can rebuild houses. I've been broke before, so we start again, but 79 is a bit old to be starting again."

"This is all ours... was [ours]," Loretta said, becoming visibly emotional.

Retirees Ray and Loretta Rice have lived in Harcourt for 19 years and had their forever home demolished by the fire.

The fire swept through yesterday afternoon, with its speed catching locals by surprise.

For those who stayed behind, last night was a reprieve as temperatures dropped.

This morning, locals were able to see the extent of the damage after the fire burned through 30,000 hectares of land, destroying 50 structures, including homes and farms.

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan acknowledged the town's devastation.

"This is a fabulous small community that has been hit really hard," she said.

Australians have poured their support behind the community to help them recover from their losses.

Tyrone said the response has been overwhelming.

"In fact, I haven't replied to them all. There's just too many," he said.

Other frontline responders also lose their homes

In Alexandra, volunteer firefighter Michael Harper spent more than 20 hours on the frontline saving other people's homes.

During that time, he lost his home of 10 years to a blaze.

Meanwhile, the Mayor of Murrindindi, Damien Gallagher, who was part of the strike team fighting the fire, was also told his house had been destroyed.

"The intensity of the heat is incredible," he said.

"And with my crew, the guys on the back did an incredible job in some tough situations where they couldn't breathe."

But he came back to find a miracle - his home still standing.

"We really need to pour our hearts out to the community members, many of whom are coming home to no home," he said.

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