It's Victoria where the main problem is, Goatfell. I hope your friends are safe -- they most likely are this time around.

Overnight things got much worse. We're safe but the whole south-east of the state seems to be either burning or under threat.
Our friends at Marysville are probably safe, and taking refuge at the local sports ground no doubt with their instruments. Probably leading singing or off fighting fires. No info. about their homes but it looks grim.
One of my daughters and three of my grandchildren are safe. I'm so proud of her carrying out her plan and sticking to it. It must have been hard to leave her husband alone at home, but he'll be ok too. They're well prepared. Their home is in the path of one fire that may unite with two others today.
My other daughter and two children are on holiday right in the middle of a big fire. They should be safe -- there's open ground there and a lake. They'll come home to a suburb that's not likely to burn.

Goatfell -- we do burn and clear but there's a limit. We can't burn everything so it won't burn. Also burning encourages plants that REALLY burn well. Victoria was always a wet, lush place -- not like the Outback. It's a complex eco-system. No simple answers. Rain used to put out the lightning-strike fires. Now the rain-pattern has changed. Victoria has been in the grip of drought for 13 years.
We have not been kind to this ancient land, and its Wildlife.
Joy