Longwood bushfire - Road conditions remain dangerous

Longwood bushfire - Road conditions remain dangerous

Published on 27 January 2026

Murrindindi Shire Council is urging residents and organisations providing relief and recovery services to take extreme care when travelling in and around fire-affected areas, with road conditions remaining hazardous following the recent fire.

While some roads have reopened under restricted conditions, more than 450 kilometres of local roads remain legally closed and are accessible only to authorised emergency and response services. These closures apply to all members of the public, including residents, property owners and visitors, due to significant and ongoing safety risks.

Residents seeking to return to damaged or destroyed properties should not enter closed roads unless formally authorised, as these roads have not been deemed safe for travel, and access is not permitted under current emergency restrictions.

Visitors are welcome to the wider region; however, they must not attempt to access closed local roads in the Longwood fire-affected area. Access to these roads remains strictly limited, and conditions are unpredictable and hazardous.

Community safety remains the highest priority and Council is working closely with the Incident Control Centre to assess damage, clear hazards and progressively re-establish safe access to roads impacted by the fire. Residents are strongly encouraged to travel only on approved routes, including major roads and key connecting roads that have been inspected, made safe or opened under restricted access.

Roads outside the fire impacted area remain open with travellers encouraged to monitor VicEmergency and check VicTraffic prior to travel.

There are many crews working across the road network, including arborists, specialist tree contractors, bridge assessors, engineers and construction workers. These complex assessments take time, and the community's patience is greatly appreciated.

Driving conditions after dark are extremely dangerous and should be avoided unless absolutely necessary. Fire has destroyed critical road safety infrastructure including reflectors, barriers, signage and line marking, making navigation difficult, particularly at night.

There is also a significant risk of livestock and native wildlife moving freely across roads due to damaged or destroyed fencing. These hazards may be difficult to see, especially in low light.

Road conditions can change at any time. A road may reopen and then close again if additional trees fall or further damage is identified. There will be a high volume of heavy machinery and crews on local roads as fallen trees and debris are removed. Drivers are asked to remain alert and patient, and not to overtake unless it is safe to do so.

Council will continue to provide updates as inspections and clean-up efforts progress.

Tourists and visitors are actively encouraged to explore areas of the region outside the fire-impacted zones and enjoy the diverse experiences available. Council's web site, Discover Dindi and the Tourism North East app are valuable resources when planning travel, alongside VicEmergency.

Mayor of Murrindindi Shire Council, Cr Damien Gallagher, said the safety of the community must come before convenience.

"While we understand the desire to return to normal travel as quickly as possible, the reality is that many roads in the Longwood fire-affected area remain unsafe and unpredictable," Cr Gallagher said.

"Trees can fall without warning, road surfaces and safety infrastructure have been damaged, and conditions can change at any time. We are asking people to travel only if necessary, stick to approved routes, and avoid driving after dark wherever possible."

"Our crews are working closely with partner agencies to inspect and clear roads as safely and quickly as they can, and I thank the community for their patience and cooperation as this critical work continues."

For the latest information on road closures and conditions, visit: murrindindi.vic.gov.au/longwoodfire

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