A raging bushfire in central Victoria has destroyed at least 10 properties in the small town of Ruffy, about 175km north of Melbourne. Country Fire Authority captain George Noye said the fire was out of control and moved south-east into the town. "The town’s been impacted severely. The main street looks like a bomb’s gone off," Noye told ABC Radio. A former school now used as a community hub was lost. "It is absolutely devastating to see it go," he added. One firefighter suffered third-degree burns to his hands and was hospitalized. Another firefighter, Darryl Otzen, lost his own property, saying, "There’s nothing left" of the town. He described the fire jumping gaps of nearly a kilometer, fueled by hot winds and dry conditions. "We saw the smoke come up and we’re like, it’s gone," Otzen said. The fire has burned farms and destroyed hay and feed, devastating local agriculture. Noye confirmed "countless homes" were lost and warned that hot, dry, and windy weather would hamper firefighting efforts. "The community is incredibly resilient and we will get through this," he said. Chris McDermott, a local farmer, saved two houses but said his brothers-in-law lost everything, including livestock. Emergency warnings were issued early Friday for Ruffy and 17 surrounding towns, with authorities telling residents it was too late to evacuate safely and they should take shelter. Another fierce bushfire in north-east Victoria near Walwa has burned 4,500 hectares and created its own lightning and thunder system. Evacuation orders are in place for Walwa and nearby towns. The Hume Highway is closed and regional trains canceled as Victoria braces for "catastrophic" fire conditions, a first since the 2019-20 black summer fires.