Imagine a community plunged into darkness, not by choice, but by the relentless fury of nature. This was the stark reality for the residents of Yea, a town grappling with the aftermath of a devastating bushfire. But here's where it gets even more poignant—shoppers were forced to navigate their local supermarket by torchlight, a grim reminder of the fragility of everyday life in the face of such disasters. This scene, unfolding on January 11, 2026, at Yea FoodWorks, was both surreal and deeply human.
As the town remained without power on that Sunday morning, locals gathered outside the supermarket, their faces illuminated only by the flickering beams of torches. A worker at the entrance calmly directed the crowd, “Next person. Cash only. You’ll need to be guided.” Inside, staff members became impromptu guides, leading customers through the darkened aisles with torches and clipboards. The essentials were in high demand—coffee, milk, tomatoes, bread, and Milo—each item a small but vital piece of normalcy in an abnormal world.
Among the shoppers was Fiona Purvis, a resident of Homewood, who meticulously searched for cartons of milk and a large tub of water. “We’re keeping our eskies full with just the essentials—milk, bread, butter,” she explained. Fiona and her family had made the courageous decision to stay and protect their 800-acre property, located just a 10-minute drive from Yea along the Goulburn River. “We knew that we could protect the farm,” she said, her voice steady despite the challenges. “We’ve got about 200 head of cattle to care for.”
And this is the part most people miss—the quiet resilience of individuals like Fiona and the supermarket staff, who were doing everything in their power to maintain a sense of order. Adam Kupke, a worker at the store, shared that while the supermarket had a generator, it had unfortunately broken down overnight. “We’re just trying to do what we can for the people that need help,” he said, his tone both determined and weary. “It might get to a point where we’re gonna have to close, but for now, we’re here.”
Kupke’s words underscored the emotional toll of the crisis. “I know so many people here. I grew up in this area. It’s devastating, mate,” he reflected. The bushfire had ravaged the region, destroying hundreds of buildings and homes, yet miraculously, no lives had been lost. However, the stories of close calls were abundant, each a testament to the thin line between safety and catastrophe.
One such story unfolded just north of Yea, on a remote property along Caveat-Dropmore Road. There, police executed a dramatic air rescue, evacuating two generations of a family, including a 92-year-old man and their beloved cat. The family had lost their home while attempting to defend it and had sought refuge in a shipping container as the fire raged around them. “Two women, aged 59 and 82, and a 92-year-old man called emergency services Friday afternoon seeking assistance to evacuate their isolated property,” Victoria Police detailed in a statement.
After enduring two days of harrowing conditions, including the complete loss of their home, the 59-year-old woman reached out for help, concerned for the health of her mother and uncle. The family had bunkered down in the shipping container as the fire swept through the area on January 7, even spending a night sleeping in their vehicle. Their rescue was a stark reminder of the human cost of such disasters and the heroism of those who respond to them.
But here’s the controversial question—as communities like Yea face increasingly frequent and severe bushfires, are we doing enough to prepare and protect them? The resilience of these residents is undeniable, but the systemic challenges they face cannot be ignored. What measures should be prioritized to ensure the safety and sustainability of such vulnerable areas? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.
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