On 14 January 1985 a significant number of bushfires started in Victoria predominantly from lightning strikes. A major fire in Central Victoria burnt 50,800 hectares of land, including 17,600 hectares of Crown Land. Three people died and over 180 houses, 500 farms and 46,000 livestock were destroyed as a result of the fire. Areas affected included Avoca, Maryborough, and Little River. A large number of fires also started in the Victorian alpine areas, the largest at Mt Buffalo burning 51,400 hectares. Overall, 111 fires started on public land on and it took two weeks to bring the fires under control..