At least 19 significant fires are burning across the state of Victoria, seven of which were placed on watch and act alert as of 7pm yesterday, mostly in Gippsland.

The fires include two near Dargo in the state’s east, one near Valencia Creek, one east of Licola, one in Bunyip State Park, one in Gembrook State Park, one in Yinnar South, and another near Dandenong South and Bangholme, The Age reported.

Among the many within the insurance industry reacting to the events, claims-management solutions provider Crawford has deployed its property and forensic accounting teams to the multiple fires that are currently burning.

“We are already seeing claim notifications for property,” Crawford said in a statement. “Many businesses not directly impacted by fire are unable to trade. Those located between Drouin and Pakenham are especially impacted, including those in Longwarry, Bunyip, Garfield, Tynong, and Nar Nar Goon. Whilst the closure of the Princes Freeway has been well publicised, excepting limited local access, the road parallel to the main rail line through these towns has also been closed. Claims for business interruption, whether from direct fire impact or more remote causes have arisen. Denial of access, power interruption, loss of attraction, and other factors are relevant to these risks.”

Crawford said it has reinforced local employees with interstate support to prepare for the influx of claims.

“We believe many claims lend themselves to desktop assessment,” Crawford said. “Our CFAS Rapid team is using the tools in the CFAS Toolkit to rapidly assess and quantify these claims. More complex claims do require site visits. Our teams of experienced property adjusters are already deployed to sites where access is possible, and they are working with Crawford Forensic Accounting Services specialists to consider stock-and-business interruption aspects.”